NALC have arranged with NCC Elections Team to hold an Elections Nominations Process Briefing session for local council clerks on Monday 3rd March at 6pm. The meeting will be virtual via Teams.
The session will last approximately 60-90 minutes and there is an expectation that it will be recorded. You can join via the following link:
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 343 941 196 153
Passcode: AP3uR28Q
Clerks should have received this email from Iain Hedley on 7th February with a correction sent on the 10th February. Whilst this briefing has been produced for Clerks, Councillors are welcome to attend .
The following is a summary of the process, followed by an Election Timetable that was published on NCCs website Voting and Elections page on Thursday 11th February. LINK
Parish Council Elections
Parish council elections are held every four years in Northumberland. The next parish council elections will be held on 1 May 2025 at the same time as Northumberland County Council Elections.
Election Organisation
Elections are organised by the Returning Officer for Northumberland County Council. To stand for election candidates must submit nomination papers, available from Electionstaff@northumberland.gov.uk The nomination form | Electoral Commission. This paper must be signed by you – the candidate – and also by two subscribers (proposer and seconder) who are electors of the relevant parish or ward. Papers must be submitted to the Returning Officer. It is the candidates responsibility to ensure their papers are received in time. The nomination period for the May 2025 elections is a short window of time from Friday 21st March at 10am to Wednesday 2nd April at 4pm.
All of the ‘seats’ on parish councils will become vacant in May 2025. If there are more candidates than seats available, the election will proceed to a poll. If not, the Returning Officer will declare the candidates as duly elected, unopposed. Local councillors take up their positions four days after the elections, usually the Monday following the elections, although for 2025 as that is a bank holiday it will be Tuesday 6 May..
If there are insufficient candidates to fill all council member seats then following the election, the council (if quorate) can move to cooption to fill any remaining vacancies and this must be done within 35 days following the election date. After this time principal authorities can take the appropriate action to fill any vacancies. This may include running another election process.
The Electoral Commission website provides all the details a candidate needs to know.
Election Timetable
- Publication of Notice of Election: Thursday 20 March 4pm
- Receipt of nominations: Friday 21 Mar to Wednesday 2 April 10am to 4pm
- Withdrawal of Candidate: By Wednesday 2 April 4pm
- Publication of Notice of Election Agents (All except Parish): By Wednesday 2 April 4pm
- Parish to have requested poll cards (Parish): By Wednesday 2 April 4pm
- Publication of Statements of Persons Nominated: Thursday 3 April 4pm
- Last date for registration to vote: Friday 11 April
- Receipt of postal vote applications: By Monday 14 April 5pm
- Publish Notice of Poll: tbc but not later than Wednesday 23 April
- Last day for voter Authority Certificates: Wednesday 23 April 2025 5pm
- Receipt of Proxy Vote Applications: By Wednesday 23 April 5pm
- Appointment of Poll and Count Agents: Thursday 24 April
- First day to issue replacement lost postal ballot papers: Friday 25 April
- Receipt of Emergency Proxy Vote Applications: By Thursday 1 May 5pm
- Last day to issue replacement spoilt or lost postal ballot papers: Thursday 1 May 5pm
- Day of Election: Thursday 1 May 7am to 10pm
- Polling Day is Thursday 1 May 7am to 10pm.
If you have any other queries or need any other support, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be pleased to help.
Best regards
Graeme Popay
CO Northumberland ALC
info@northumberlandalc.uk