PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS – 4 May 2017 – GUIDANCE
Candidates are strongly advised to read the 'Guidance for candidates and agents' published by the Electoral Commission.
KEY DATES and TIMES
Friday 24 March
4pm Tuesday 4 April
4pm Tuesday 4 April
Thursday 13 April
5pm Tuesday 18 April
5pm Tuesday 25 April
Wednesday 26 April
7am to 10pm
Thursday 4 May
Friday 2 June
Earliest time to:
Latest time to:
Latest time to:
Latest time to:
Deliver Nomination papers
Deliver Nomination papers
Withdraw candidature
Apply to Register to vote
Latest time to: Apply for a postal vote or to alter postal/proxy voting arrangements
Latest time to: Apply for a proxy vote
Latest time to: Appoint counting and polling agents
POLLING DAY
(Applications to vote by proxy on grounds of a medical emergency or work reasons close at
5pm)
Latest time to:
Submit return of election expenses
COMPLETING A NOMINATION PAPER - Read Part 2 of the EC Guidance for more information
Notes:


Any error in a nomination paper may mean that it will be invalid.
Read these notes and those on the nomination paper carefully before trying to
complete the form.
 A form CANNOT BE CHANGED once it has been formally lodged - ask for an informal
check first.
 Lodge the nomination paper as early as possible so there is time to submit another one
if the first is invalid.
 You must enter the name of area you are standing for election on the nomination
paper. NOTE: For elections to Lowestoft Parish Council you must give the name of the
‘Parish Ward’ you are standing in.
1. The names of the candidate must be given in full
Common Errors Include
Abbreviating forenames and use of initials.
Notes:
 'Commonly used' names must not be misleading, obscene or offensive.
 The exact name as given (or the 'commonly used' name if provided) will appear on any
notices and on the ballot paper.
2. Description (if any)
Common Errors Include
Using a misleading description or using a political description without submitting an
authorising certificate.
Notes:
If an authorised political description is not used then the word 'Independent' may be
inserted, or a description of up to 6 words (for example ‘Retired teacher’), or this section can
be left blank. The description you choose will be shown on the ballot paper and on election
notices.
3. Home Address
Common Errors Include
Failure to give full address - the post town and post code must be included.
Notes:
Home address is required - this may not be the address where the candidate is registered as
an elector.
4. Signatures
Common Errors Include
Proposer and/or seconder (subscribers) are not electors for the parish area that the
candidate is standing for.
Notes:
 Signatures do not have to be in same format as the electoral register.
 Signature may be in full or just the initial(s) of the forename(s).
 Print name the purpose of this is to assist election office staff in processing the data so
that it appears accurately on subsequent notices because some signatures are difficult
to read.
5. Electoral Numbers
Common Errors Include
Using the wrong register - you must use the one published on 1 March 2017. Please contact
the Elections Team at Waveney on 01502 523238 to obtain the correct numbers.
Notes:
 The electoral number is made up of: the distinctive letter(s) (the Polling District letters
printed on the top right hand corner on every page of the register), and the number
(printed to the left of the person’s surname as it appears in the register).
 Candidates may request a copy of the register by writing to the election office after 27

March at the earliest. The register will be supplied in data format unless a hard copy is
requested.
A number of legal restrictions apply to the use of information in the register and
improper use is liable on conviction to a fine.
CANDIDATE’S CONSENT TO NOMINATION
Common Errors Include
Notes:
Consent is not witnessed or witness does not state full name and address.
Candidate's electoral number is missing/incorrect.
 The nomination will be invalid if the candidate does not give consent to it.
 There is no restriction as to who can witness the form.
 Candidates must meet at least one of the four qualifications but are advised to
complete all of the qualifications that apply.
 A person cannot be a candidate if:
a) they are employed by the town/parish council they wish to stand for or hold a
paid office under that council (including joint boards or committees), or
b) they are the subject of a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order, or
c) they have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 3 months or more
(including a suspended sentence) without the option of a fine, 5 years before the
day of this election; or
d) They have been disqualified under Part III of the Representation of the People
Act 1983.
Read Part 1 of the EC Guidance for more information.
FALSE STATEMENTS ON NOMINATION PAPERS
It is a serious offence to include false information on nomination papers. A person who is found guilty of such an offence
may be sentenced to imprisonment, a fine, or both. In addition, if the candidate is subsequently elected, their election
will be void.
APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION AGENT
Candidates at town/parish council elections do not appoint Election Agents.
DELIVERY OF NOMINATION PAPERS
 Completed nominations must be returned to The Elections Office, 2 Canning Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0EQ
 Office hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
 Nominations can be submitted from FRIDAY 24 MARCH until 4pm on TUESDAY 4 APRIL 2017.
 Report to the reception desk.
Delivery Procedure
 Make sure you obtain a receipt when depositing the nomination papers.
 Nomination papers will be checked on request but there may be a queue.
As soon as possible after the nomination papers have been checked, a notice confirming whether or not the nomination is
valid will be provided to each candidate together with a 'Candidate Nomination Details' report. It is important that this is
carefully checked for accuracy because the information shown will be used for the production of all subsequent statutory
notices including, if the election is contested, the ballot paper.
A candidate can withdraw at any time before 4pm on 4 April by delivering a notice in writing to the elections office. The
envelope must be marked 'For the attention of the Elections Office'
NEXT STEPS AFTER CLOSE OF NOMINATIONS
After close of nominations a statement of all the nominations will be sent to candidates.
 Campaign publicity is subject to a number of restrictions - Read Part 4 of the
Guidance.
Contested Elections
 Further information about the poll and counting of votes will be sent to candidates as
soon as possible.
Uncontested Elections
 As soon as possible after 4 April a notice of uncontested election will be published.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Declaration of election
Read Part 6 of the 'Guidance for candidates and agents' published by the Electoral
expenses
Commission.
WEBSITE
www.electoralcommission.org.uk gives further information.
HELPLINE
Telephone (01502) 523238 for further advice about nominations.