Standing for election to the County Council

Have you ever thought about standing for election to Shropshire County Council?

Elections to the County Council take place once every four years. At each election, candidates for each of the county's 44 wards have the opportunity to stand either as independents or members of a political party. The successful candidates go on to have an important voice in Shropshire's decision making during their term of office.

To stand for election to the County Council (or to a district or borough council), you must::

• be aged at least 18
• hold British nationality or be a national of any other EU country
• be on the Electoral Register for the area
• have lived in the area for at least a year
• have had your principal or only place of work in the area for at least a year

However, you are not eligible to stand for election if:

• you are a paid officer of the County Council
• your employer is under Council control
• you are an undischarged bankrupt
• you have been sentenced to a prison term of three months or longer in the last five years
• you have been convicted of any corrupt or illegal practice

You cannot stand for more than one seat on the County Council at an election, but you are allowed to be a member of other authorities (for example a County Councillor can also be a member of his or her local district council).

To become a candidate you must be formally proposed and seconded, and you also have to secure the signatures of eight electors in the ward in which you wish to stand.

For more information

(1) contact the Democratic Services Manager

(2) refer to the book "How to Become a Local Councillor" by Peter Arnold. Copies are available at local libraries.

(3) there is a section on the role and responsibilities of a councillor in the Shropshire County Council Constitution (see Part 5)

(4) you can also refer to the Local Government Act 2000 (please follow the link on this page)

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