Guidance Document for Prospective County Council Candidates
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Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR PROSPECTIVE COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES May 2021 County Council Elections www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk Follow us on Twitter: @newsNBC MARCH 2021 1 MESSAGE FROM THE RETURNING OFFICER Hello – My name is Martin Hamilton and I am the Deputy County Returning Officer for the County Council Elections being held within Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s area on 6 May. My Elections Team will endeavour to help you with any queries you may have during the election process, but this guidance will hopefully answer many of your initial queries. It is not intended as an authoritative interpretation of the law, and candidates are advised to seek their own legal advice, which may involve you contacting the Electoral Commission directly. I would also urge you to make reference to our webpage – “Staffordshire County Council Election 2021” – which will provide you with information throughout the election process. This can be found under the “2021 Elections” section. The website address for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk and you can follow us on Twitter - @newsNBC All relevant notices will be published on our webpage, and this should be your first port of call, as with so many elections taking place, it will be quicker to find out who you are standing against online, rather than trying to telephone a member of the Elections Team. In addition to the guidance produced by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, the Electoral Commission, which is the UK’s independent elections watchdog, has provided information on how to stand as a candidate, conduct your election campaign and the spending limits for candidates. I strongly recommend that all candidates, and their agents, should download and familiarise themselves with the Electoral Commission’s comprehensive notes obtainable via the following link:- https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/local- elections-in-england In addition, my Elections Team have provided guidance on the following topics:- Important Election Information about Nomination Papers (1) The Electoral Divisions and Election Timetable (2) Candidates, Nominations, Withdrawal of Candidature and Appointment of Election Agents (3) Postal and Proxy Voting (4) Tellers, Polling and Counting Agents, Agents for Postal Vote Proceedings (5) Polling Day, Polling Stations and The Count (6) Post-Election Matters (7) Elections Expenses and the Election Campaign (8) Candidates Checklist (9) Appendices and Forms: - Tellers In and Around Polling Places - Election Expenses per Ward - Request Forms for the Electoral Register and Absent Voters Lists - Notice of Withdrawal Form - Forms to Appoint Agents to Attend the Postal Vote Opening - Postal Voting Guide and Code of Conduct If you have any issues or concerns during the election process, please contact the Elections Team during normal office hours: by phone on 01782 742249 by e-mail: [email protected] 1 IMPORTANT! Completed Nomination Papers CANNOT be submitted to the Deputy County Returning Officer in the post, by e-mail or by fax. The law states that they can only be HAND-DELIVERED to the Deputy County Returning Officer by the Candidate, their Agent or a person that they trust. There is no change to this requirement due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Any Nomination Forms, Home Address Forms or Consents to Nomination received by post have not been “delivered” in accordance with the rules. The Candidate is therefore not deemed to stand nominated and no decision can be taken as to whether the papers are valid. An appointment-booking system is in place for submissions of Nomination Forms. Please contact the Elections office to make an appointment by calling 01782 742249 or e-mailing [email protected]. Informal check Candidates can email their nomination forms to: [email protected] for an informal check to be carried out before making submitting their nomination papers. We will provide feedback from the informal check by e- mail or phone and will ensure that this is completed securely. Appointments If you have not had your nomination checked electronically, we would advise for you to make an appointment to have an informal check and then formally submit your nomination paper at the same time. A formal confirmation of validity letter will follow to the candidate. To submit your completed nomination paper you will need to make an appointment by contacting the electoral services team on 01782 742249 or email: [email protected]. Covid 19 and Elections These will be the first elections taking place in Newcastle-under-Lyme during the Covid-19 pandemic. Electors will still be able to visit polling stations to cast their votes in person. All polling stations will be safety compliant with government guidelines surrounding Covid-19 and further information will follow on this at a later date. A postal or proxy vote can be arranged for those unable or not wishing to visit a polling station. Electors can request these from the Electoral Services department and, once completed, these can then be emailed back to [email protected] or sent by post to: Elections, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Castle House, Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1BL Various measures for ensuring polling stations and the count will be Covid-safe include: • Floor markings and one way systems to encourage social distancing • Appointment of Polling Station Marshalls to control queues, ensure social distancing and to carry out regular cleaning of touch points • Hand sanitiser • Face coverings • Perspex screens (at certain stations) • Public health notices • Single use pencils (electors encouraged to bring their own) • Staff working in bubbles Further guidance will be provided on this at a later date. 2 Part 1: The Electoral Divisions Listed below are the County Divisions for the area of Newcastle-under-Lyme Council, together with the number of seats available in those areas. DIVISION NUMBER OF SEATS Audley & Chesterton 1 Bradwell, Porthill & Wolstanton 1 Keele, Knutton & Silverdale 1 Kidsgrove 1 May Bank & Cross Heath 1 Newcastle Rural 1 Newcastle South 1 Talke & Red Street 1 Westlands & Thistleberry 1 3 The Election Timetable The election timetable is set down in law, but there is discretion to bring forward the date for the publication of the Notice of Election. Due to the number of seats being contested and Easter Bank Holiday being within this period, the Returning Officer will publish the Notice of Election early - Monday 22 March - to allow candidates more time to submit their nomination papers. All deadlines within the timetable, must be strictly observed. ELECTORAL EVENT DATE & TIME (if applicable) Publication of the “Notice of Election” Monday 22 March 2021 Offices Closed Good Friday (2 April) to Easter Monday (5 April) Deadline for the receipt of nominations 4pm Thursday 8 April 2021 Withdrawal of candidature if no longer standing 4pm Thursday 8 April 2021 Deadline for the appointment of election agents 4pm Thursday 8 April 2021 Publication of “Initial Interim Notice of Alteration” Thursday 8 April 2021 Last date for publication of the “Statements of Persons Nominated” 4pm Friday 9 April 2021 Last date to receive applications to appear on the Register Monday 19 April 2021 Last date to receive written applications to vote by post 5pm Tuesday 20 April 2021 Last date to publish the “Notice of Poll” Tuesday 27 April 2021 Publication of “Second Interim Notice of Alteration” Tuesday 27 April 2021 Last date for receipt of written applications to vote by proxy 5pm Tuesday 27 April 2021 Deadline for the appointment of polling and counting agents Wednesday 28 April 2021 Publication of “Final Notice of Alteration” Wednesday 28 April 2021 First day to issue replacement spoilt/lost postal ballot papers Thursday 29 April 2021 Offices Closed Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May Deadline for receipt of emergency proxy applications 5pm Thursday 6 May 2021 Last day to issue replacement spoilt/lost postal ballot papers 5pm Thursday 6 May 2021 POLLING DAY 7:00 am to 10:00 pm Thursday 6 May 2021 Last day to submit the “Declaration of Candidates Expenses” Monday 14 June 2021 4 Part 2: • We recommend that you download and keep a copy of the Electoral Commission’s Guidance on this topic: namely Parts 1, 2a (for Independent Candidates) / 2b (for Party Candidates) and Part 4. Candidates STANDING FOR ELECTION To be eligible to stand as a County councillor for Staffordshire County Council, you must be: • Aged 18 or over; • Either a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of any member state of the European Union. Secondly, you must meet at least one of the following four qualifications: • You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector in the Staffordshire County Council area in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards; or • You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the Staffordshire County Council area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election; or • Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the Staffordshire County Council area (providing the address of the place of work and where appropriate, the name of the employer); or • You have lived in the Staffordshire County Council area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of the election. If you qualify under more than one heading, it is good practice to include all those which apply. You will be unable to stand as a candidate if:- • You are employed by the local authority or hold a paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees).