Qualifying as a candidate
To stand for election to become a Herefordshire councillor you must be:
- At least 18 years old on the day of your nomination, and
- A British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights (see the Electoral Commission website for the meanings of an eligible Commonwealth citizen, qualifying EU citizens and EU citizens with retained rights)
You must also meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
- You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards, or
- You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election, or
- Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the local authority area, or
- You have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election
Apart from meeting the qualifications for standing for election, you must also not be disqualified from standing.
Disqualifications
There are certain people who are disqualified from being elected to a council in England and Wales.
The Electoral Commission website lists full, up to date information about who is disqualified from standing for election.
You must be sure that you are not disqualified as you will be asked to sign one of the required nomination papers to confirm that you are not disqualified.
Check the Electoral Commission website for full details of disqualifications
It is a criminal offence to make a false statement on your nomination papers as to your qualification for being elected, so if you are in any doubt you should contact your employer, consult the legislation or, if necessary, take your own independent legal advice.
The Returning Officer will not be able to confirm whether or not you are disqualified.
The full range of disqualifications is complex and if you are in any doubt about whether you are disqualified, you must do everything you can to check that you are not disqualified before submitting your nomination papers.