Elections - electoral nominations

How we provide this service

Electoral nomination information - How to stand as a candidate is supported by Customer, Legal and Member Services, Electoral Services.

County Council elections - Within South Holland District there are 9 County Council electoral divisions electing 9 County Councillors. Each councillor is elected for a period of four years. Elections are held every four years on the first Thursday in May. The last elections were held on 4th June 2009. The next scheduled elections will be in May 2013.

District Council elections - the South Holland District is divided into 18 wards electing a total of 37 District Councillors. Each councillor is elected for a period of four years. Elections are held every four years at the same time as Parish Council elections on the first Thursday in May. The last elections were held on 3rd May 2007. The next scheduled elections will be held on 5th May 2011.

Information relating to the District and Parish Council elections in 2011

Parish Council elections - Within South Holland District there are 21 Parish Councils comprising a total of 217 Parish Councillors. Each councillor is elected for a period of four years. Elections are held every four years at the same time as District Council elections on the first Thursday in May. The last elections were held on 3rd May 2007. The next scheduled elections will be held on 5th May 2011.

Information relating to the District and Parish Council elections in 2011

Parliamentary Elections (known as General Election) - South Holland falls within the South Holland and the Deepings Parliamentary Constituency which covers the whole of the South Holland District and part of the South Kesteven District Council area (Deeping St James, Market Deeping and West Deeping. The maximum period allowed between UK Parliamentary elections is five years. The last Parliamentary General election was held on 6th May 2010.

European Parliamentary Elections - South Holland falls within the East Midlands Region which elects five MEP's. Elections are held every five years in June. The last elections were held on 7th June 2009 and the next election will be held in June 2014.

By-Elections - By-elections to fill casual vacancies arising from resignations, disqualification or the death of a Councillor/Member of Parliament are held as and when necessary.



Email: elections@sholland.gov.uk

What to do to get this service

To stand as a candidate at any Local Government election (County, District or Parish Council) or UK Parliamentary election you need to fill in a Nomination Paper and a Candidate's Consent to Nomination form - available during the run-up to an election from the Electoral Services section. All Candidates must obtain supporting signatures on their nomination paper from registered electors in the area where they wish to stand as a candidate. The number of signatures required depends on the type of election - candidates at Parliamentary, District and County Council elections are required to obtain 10 signatures and at Parish Council elections 2 signatures.

Who can apply?

Local Government elections (County, District or Parish Council)
To qualify as a candidate for election as a County, District or Parish Councillor a person must not be disqualified from holding office and must be :

• over 18 years of age on the date of nomination, and
• a British or Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a citizen of another Member State of the European Union.

In addition they must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• be registered as a local government elector in the area on the date of nomination; or
• has occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises during the whole of the previous twelve months within the area; or
• his/her principal or only place of work during the whole of the previous twelve months has been in the area; or
• has resided within the area for the whole of the previous twelve months; or
• in the case of parish council elections only, has resided in the area for the whole of the previous twelve months, or within 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) of it.

In all of the above qualifications "area" is defined as the area of the County Council (Lincolnshire), the District Council (South Holland) or the appropriate Parish Council.
No deposit is payable for standing as a candidate for local elections.

Parliamentary/European elections
For UK Parliamentary elections, a candidate must not be disqualified from holding office and must be:

• a British or Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, and
• over 18 years of age on the date of nomination

At Parliamentary elections a candidate is required to pay a deposit of £500 which is refundable if the candidate polls more than 5% of the total votes cast.

At a European Parliamentary election a deposit of £5000 is required to be paid.

A person may only stand as a candidate for a political party if the nomination paper is submitted with a certificate authorising their candidature issued by, or on behalf of, the nominating officer of a registered political party. Such candidates are entitled to use official registered party names and can have the party name and emblem printed on the ballot paper against their name.

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Contact Details

If you have any queries about the information provided above, or require further information, please contact Customer Services on 01775 761161 or email info@sholland.gov.uk.