This document was classified as: OFFICIAL PARISH ELECTIONS 2021 – PARISH BY ELECTIONS 6 MAY 2021 INFORMATION PACK FOR CANDIDATES AND AGENTS Contents 1. Submission of Nomination Papers 2. Covid Considerations 3. Contact Details 4. Political Advertising 5. Electoral Commission Guidance – Campaigning 6. Spending 7. Access to Electoral Register and other resources 8. Registration and Absent Voting 9. Postal Vote Opening Sessions 10. Agents 11. Verification and Count 12. Publication of Results 13. Declaration of Acceptance of Office and Term of Office 14. Briefings Appendix 1 – Election Timetable Appendix 2 – Candidate Contact Details Form Appendix 3 – Candidate Checklist Appendix 4 – Nomination Form Appendix 5 – Candidate’s Home Address Form Appendix 6– Consent to nomination Appendix 7 – Certificate of Authorisation (Party candidates only) Appendix 8 – Request for Party Emblem (Party candidates only) Appendix 9 – Notice of withdrawal Appendix 10 – Register Request Form Appendix 11 – Absent Voters Request Form Appendix 12 – Notification of postal voting agents, polling agents and counting agents Appendix 13 – Code of Conduct for Campaigners Appendix 14 – Declarations of Secrecy Appendix 15 – Polling Station List Appendix 16 – Count Procedure and layout Appendix 17 – Thornaby Pavilion car parking Appendix 18 – Feedback Form J Danks Returning Office (RO) This document was classified as: OFFICIAL Elections 2021 – Advice for Political Parties and Candidates 1. Submission of Nomination Papers Candidates/ Agents are encouraged to email scanned nomination forms and supporting papers for informal checking at the earliest opportunity. However, the law requires formal submission of nomination papers by hand, as set out below. Please email nomination papers for informal checking to [email protected] and telephone Margaret Waggott on 01642 527064 to confirm. When a candidate is validly nominated, they will receive a letter confirming their nomination. Form Delivery Where and Notes Method when Nomination Paper By hand Between Details of the required subscribers on the nomination form should (including all 10.00am to be checked against the electoral register published on 1 March supporting pages) 4.00pm Monday 2021. If they do not appear on the register, they cannot subscribe to Friday, on a nomination form. Original signed and from version Monday 22 At Parish elections an elector may not subscribe more March 2021 until nominations than there are vacancies in the parish or, if warded, 4.00pm on the parish ward. Thursday 8 April 2021. For Parish Council elections, a candidate can choose to use a description, which must not exceed six words in length; these To the descriptions do not have to be registered with the Electoral Returning Commission. A description must not lead electors to associate it Officer, the with a registered political party, unless the description has been Elections Office, registered by that party and its use has been authorised. Room 65, Municipal Where a candidate is standing for a registered political party, the Buildings, description may be either the registered party name or one of the Church Road, descriptions the party has registered with the Electoral Stockton on Commission. Tees, TS18 1LD. The description included on the nomination must be IDENTICAL to the authorised description specified on the Certififcate of Deadline Authorisation. 8 April 2021 4pm Home Address By hand As above The home address: Form • must be completed in full Deadline • must not contain abbreviations Original signed 8 April 2021 • must be your current home address version 4pm • must not be a business address (unless you run a business from your home) A candidate may choose not to have their home address published on the statement of persons nominated or ballot paper. In this case, they must state the district in which they reside. Candidate By hand As above The consent form should be signed and dated by the candidate no Consent to earlier than 31 calendar days before the nomination deadline (i.e. Nomination Deadline not before 8 March and by 8 April 2021). 8 April 2021 Original signed 4pm version 2 This document was classified as: OFFICIAL Certificate of By hand or post As above or by A certificate signed by an authorised officer (and being an original Authorisation post document). Original signed Deadline As long as a person who has signed a certificate claims that version 8 April 2021 they have been authorised to do so by the registered 4pm Nominating Officer, the certificate should be taken at face value. However, it would be helpful if Nominating Officers’ delegated authorities were up to date and provided to the RO in advance of the nominations process. Delegated authorities may be sent by post or electronically. Request for Party By hand or post As above or by If the party has more than one registered emblem, the candidate Emblem post should specify which one they want to use. Deadline Original signed 8 April 2021 version 4pm There are no restrictions on who can deliver the nomination papers. They should, however, be delivered by someone who is trusted, so that you can be sure they are delivered in time. It is an offence knowingly to make a false statement on any of the nomination papers. Alleged offences will be referred to the Police if complaints are received by the Returning Officer. 2. COVID Considerations The coronavirus pandemic continues to impact our daily lives and as such presents particular challenges for the holding of elections. National guidance has been provided by the Electoral Commission, which has been developed in close consultation with the AEA and Cabinet Office to support our planning which is informed by initial and ongoing risk assessments of our electoral processes. In addition, specialist local Public Health and health and safety advice has helped to identify any mitigation measures that will need to be implemented to enable us to deliver the poll. We would ask all Candidates and Agents to follow the public health guidelines and to wear the appropriate PPE at all times. Please do not attend any part of the election should you be experiencing COVID symptoms of a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste, or if your circumstances require you to isolate. If there are any concerns about a candidate or agent breaching COVID rules, these should be reported through the online reporting system found at the following link: https://www.cleveland.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/c19/v7/tell-us-about-a-possible-breach-of-coronavirus- covid-19-measures/ 3. Contacts Details Julie Danks (Returning Officer) Tel 01642 527007 [email protected] Margaret Waggott (Deputy Returning Officer) Tel 01642 527064 [email protected] Elections Team: Judy Trainer Tel 01642 528158 [email protected] Sharon McDonald Tel 01642 528954 [email protected] Kerry Round Tel 01642 528163 [email protected] 3 This document was classified as: OFFICIAL Enquiries relating to how to register for a postal vote or proxy vote or to enquire about polling station locations etc. will be dealt with by the core electoral services team. The direct line for these enquiries is 01642 526196 (Electoral Helpline). 4. Political Advertising Any complaints about election advertisements are to be directed to the Customer Services Team. The Community Services Manager Craig Willows will adopt the following procedure: (a) If there is no doubt that election advertisements have been placed on council owned street furniture / property / land they will be removed and stored at Cowpen Depot Cowpen Lane Billingham TS23 4DD and will be made available for collection by the parties concerned. (b) If it is not immediately clear that the election advertisements have been placed on council owned street furniture / property / land checks will be made. If it proves to be the case that election advertisements are on council owned street furniture / property / land then the relevant agent will be informed by the CFYA Community Services Manager Craig Willows that they will be given 24hrs to remove material or the Council will arrange to do so in default. Any material removed by the Council will be stored at Cowpen Depot Cowpen Lane Billingham TS23 4DD and will be made available for collection by the parties concerned In both of the above scenarios, the relevant agent will be informed of the removal and advised that advertisements / material is available for collection. Should candidates / agents be unsure whether or not the street furniture / property / land is council owned prior to placing advertisements then they can contact Craig Willows on 01642 527179 or Steve Bowerbank on 01642 527743 for clarification / guidance. 5. Electoral Commission Guidance - Campaigning The Electoral Commission has produced a code of conduct for campaigners which sets out a summary of the law and offers advice about how these individuals should conduct themselves during an election or referendum campaign. Please bear this in mind if you are campaigning for yourself or others, and please bring it to the attention of those who campaign for you. Specific guidance about campaigning during the current period of national lockdown and for changes to be implemented from 8 March can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-governments-approach-to-elections-and-referendums- during-covid-19/the-governments-approach-to-elections-and-referendums-during-covid-19 In addition, full guidance is available for candidates and agents at the following links: Parish: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/parish-council-elections-england 6. Spending Spending limits are set out in part 3 of the guidance. The spending and donation rules apply during the ‘regulated period’ which begins on the day after the date you officially become a candidate and ends on polling day, 6 May 2021.