How to become a councillor
When a vacancy arises on the Council we advertise the vacancy
and then need to receive a request for an election to be held
signed by two registered electors of Carlisle.
An election timetable is then compiled, the election must be
held within 35 days (excluding bank holidays and weekends) from the
date the election was called.
After the notice of election is published (in the local press,
in the Civic Centre and on notice boards in polling stations) you
can request a nomination pack from us, the date this has to be
returned is on the timetable.
There are certain qualifications you must meet in order to make
your nomination valid. To qualify as a candidate you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- be British Citizen, an eligible Commonwealth Citizen or a
Citizen of any other member state of the European Union
- meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
- be registered as a local government elector for the local
authority area in which they wish to stand, or
- have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in
the local authority area during the whole of the twelve months
before the day of your nomination, or
- your main or only place of work during the last 12 months has
been in the local authority area’ or
- you have lived in the local authority area during the whole of
the last 12 months
You must meet these requirements on the day you are nominated
and on polling day.
Apart from meeting the qualifications for standing for election,
you must also not be disqualified from standing. There are certain
people who are disqualified from being elected to a local
authority. You cannot be a candidate if at the time of your
nomination or election:
- you are employed by the local authority or hold a paid office
under the authority (including joint boards or committees)
- you hold a politically restricted post
- you are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or
interim order (note that being simply bankrupt is not a
disqualification)
- you have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three
month or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option
of a fine, during five years before polling day
- you have been disqualified under Part iii of the Representation
of the People Act 1983 (which relates to donations and other
offences) or under the Audit Commission Act.
A person may also be disqualified from election if they have
been convicted or reported guilty of a corrupt of illegal practice
by an election court, or if they have been disqualified from
standing for election to a local authority following a decision of
the First-tier Tribunal (formerly the Adjudication Panel for
England).
Once you are certain you qualify you must have your nomination
paper signed by a proposer, a seconder and 8 other assentors, each
of these must live in the Ward you are putting up for.
If you wish to stand for a registered political party you must
be authorised to do so and authorised to use their party logo, if
not you would have to stand as Independent.
If we receive more valid nominations than there are vacancies
then we would proceed with an election, if not you will
automatically be elected as a councillor.
The Electoral Commission has produced
guidance to assist prospective candidates (external link) in
the nomination process, the Election Day itself and election
expenses. For more information please visit the
Electoral Commission
Website (external link) which provides information on how to
become a councillor and electoral participation.