Standing for local elections

Candidates and agents briefing

A briefing took place on Wednesday 24 February at 5pm via Zoom for anyone who wished to stand for the County Council seats, the two District ward by-elections or the various parish by-elections that will take place on Thursday 6 May.

You can now view a copy of the Candidates and Agents briefing slides [372.63KB].

Recordings of the event

A short video recording of the briefing is available.

We also have an audio recording of the event.
Download and listen to the audio recording of candidates and agents briefing

On this page:

• Standing for election
• Candidates timetable
• Nomination paper - County Council, District and Parish candidates
• Information for Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) candidates
• Withdrawal of candidacy
• Spending and donations
• The campaign
• Attending key electoral events
• Postal vote opening sessions

Standing for election

If you are standing for election either as an independent or for a party you should view the guidance from the Electoral Commission

► Guidance and resources for candidates or agents at a local government election (County and District Council elections)

(Scroll down to the appropriate sections for 'independent' or 'party' candidates and expand 'Click here to view resources...')

► Guidance and resources for parish candidates

Candidates timetable

• Combined poll 6 May 2021 - election timetable for candidates [318.48KB]

Nomination paper - County Council, District and Parish candidates

Anyone wishing to stand for the County Council elections or any district or parish council by-elections MUST submit a nomination paper by the legal deadline of 4pm on Thursday 8 April 2021 (see the Candidates timetable)

Important change

No nomination papers should be completed until 10 March at the earliest.  The legislation has just been amended due to Covid-19 and the nomination papers are being revised  to reflect the change that ONLY 2 subscribers are required for a County and District election nomination paper i.e. a proposer and seconder and no longer 8 additional subscribers - this stays in force until 28 February 2022.
 

► Letter for candidates and agents standing in the County, District and Parish elections [498.87KB]

► Nomination pack - Essex County Council and District Council candidates inc. Election Agent Notification form [363KB]

► Nomination pack - Essex County Council and District Council candidates inc. Election Agent Notification form [260.33KB]

► Nomination pack - Parish Council candidates [294KB]

► Nomination pack - Parish Council candidates [440.19KB]

The Nomination paper must be downloaded and completed and hand delivered by 4pm on Thursday 8 April 2021 to:

The Returning Officer
Uttlesford District Council
Council Offices, London Road
Saffron Walden
CB11 4ER

An informal check of your paper will be conducted whilst you wait. Confirmation of validity of your nomination is then confirmed by post.
You will need to ring and make an appointment - call 01799 510434 or e-mail candidateinfo@uttlesford.gov.uk

► Information for Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) candidates

Withdrawal of candidacy

If after your formal submission of your nomination you wish to withdrawal you candidacy you must use the following form

► Withdrawal form - County Council and District Council candidates [72KB]

► Withdrawal form - Parish Council candidates [72.5KB]

Spending and donations

► Spending and donations guidance for candidates and agents

ALL candidates whether successfully elected or not MUST complete the following:

• Spending return [88.22KB] 
• Legal declaration by the candidate [35.66KB] 
• Legal declaration by the agent [35.2KB] (if not acting as your own agent).

Important - please read the Election imprints and materials [137.14KB] factsheet BEFORE printing or publishing any communications to voters.

The campaign

►The Government has published guidelines for candidates running a campaign from 8 March

► Electoral Commission campaign guidance for candidates and agents (County and District Council elections)

► Electoral Commission campaign guidance for parish council candidates

In this document you can find:

• "Dos and don'ts" - See page 4 of the Campaign guidance (Electoral Commission website)
• How to obtain the register of electors and list of absent voters - See page 7 of the Campaign guidance (Electoral Commission website)
  • Register of electors request form [73KB]
  • Absent voters list request form [74KB]

Polling agents

You are entitled to appoint a polling agent to visit polling stations on the day - please refer to the Electoral Commission guidance on what these can do.

• Polling agent appointment form [77.5KB]

Tellers

• Guidance for tellers (Electoral Commission website)
• Dos and don'ts for tellers (Electoral Commission website)

Secrecy requirements

• Secrecy requirements - The Poll, Postal Voting, Verification and Count [222.65KB]

Attending key electoral events

The verification and count
Please ensure you print off and complete the correct form to which you wish to appoint agents for and send to the Returning Officer in accordance with the timetable. The candidate and any election agent are automatically entitled to attend the verification/count.

Thursday 6 May

• Counting agent appointment form - ECC election count 6 May [77.5KB]
• Verification agent appointment form - PFCC election 6 May [79.5KB]
• Verification agent appointment form - District and Parish 6 May [77KB]

Friday 7 May

• Counting agent appointment form - District and Parish - Friday 7 May count [77KB]

Saturday 8 May

• Counting agent appointment form - PFCC election - Saturday 8 May count [81.5KB]

NOTE - The County Council count will be held overnight after close of poll on 6 May at the Lord Butler Sports and Leisure Centre, Saffron Walden. The by-elections will be counted on Friday 7 May at 2pm at the Council Offices, Saffron Walden. The two district wards will be counted first followed by the parishes in alphabetical order. (See the Candidates timetable)

The Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner election ballot papers will be verified on the Thursday night and the count will take place from 9.30am on Saturday 8 May at the Lord Butler Centre.

Postal vote opening sessions

If you wish to attend the opening of the postal votes - you must complete a  Postal voting agent appointment form [75KB]

Postal vote opening will take place on the following dates in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices, London Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4ER from 9.30am, unless otherwise indicated:

• Thursday 22 April 2020
  Provisional session (if needed): Friday 23 April

• Monday 26 April 2020
  Provisional session (if needed): Tuesday 27 April

• Wednesday 28 April 2020
  Provisional session (if needed): Thursday 29 April

• Friday 30 April 2020

• Tuesday 4 May 2020

• Wednesday 5 May - from 10 a.m.

• Thursday 6 May (polling day) from 10 a.m.

The final session will take place in the Dance Studio on the first floor of the Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre, Peaslands Road, Saffron Walden CB11 3EG from 8pm on polling day.

Candidates and their election agents are entitled to attend any of these sessions, as are any postal voting agents that are appointed.  You are entitled to appoint a postal voting agent to attend at each opening session and their appointments must be notified to The Returning Officer in writing before the beginning of the session they are attending.