Who can become a councillor?
We encourage people of all ages, genders and backgrounds to think about standing for election.
There are some conditions and criteria you must meet to be a councillor.
You must be aged 18 or over and be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any European Union state.
At least one of these statements must apply to you:
- You are registered as an elector for the area you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards
- You have lived in the local authority area for a whole 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election
- the local authority area has been your main or only place of work for the 12 months before your nomination and the day of election
- You have lived in the local authority area for the whole 12 months before your nomination and the day of election
You cannot stand for election if:
- you're employed by the local authority or hold a paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees)
- you hold a politically restricted post for another authority
- you're the subject of bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order
- you're the mayor for a combined authority area that includes the local authority
- you received a prison sentence of three months or more (including a suspended sentence) in the five years before polling day
- you've been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal practices)
- you're subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003