2021 Elections

Introduction

Every four years, Town and Parish Councils are required to hold an election for membership of the Council and by standing for election it is one of the best ways of ensuring that your views are represented.

Elections for local councils in Shropshire next take place on 6th May 2021 and Ellesmere Town Council will have vacancies for 12 Councillors.

By becoming a Town Councillor, you will be able to make a difference and help shape the Town of Ellesmere to ensure that it is able to provide the sort of services and facilities that are wanted and needed by the local community.

Who is eligible to stand for election?

The law specifies that you can become a Town Councillor if on the day of submitting your nomination form and on the day of election you are:

  • at least 18 years old
  • a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union, and
  • at least one of the following four qualifications:
  1. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish/community in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
  2. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish/community area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
  3. 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 parish/community area.
  4. You have lived in the parish/community area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

There are certain people who are disqualified from being elected to a parish or community council in England and Wales. You cannot be a candidate if at the time of your nomination and on polling day:

  1. You are employed by the parish/community or hold a paid office under the parish/community council (including joint boards or committees).
  2. You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
  3. You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day.
  4. You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices and offences relating to donations). The disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date the person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years. The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years.

A person may also be disqualified from election if they have been disqualified from standing for election to a local authority following a decision of the First-tier Tribunal (formerly the Adjudication Panel for England) or the Adjudication Panel for Wales.  For more information on eligibility please visit

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/data/assets/pdf_file/0003/141798/Part1CanyoustandforelectionPandC.pdf

How do I stand for election?

If you are interested in standing for election as an Ellesmere Town Councillor, you will need to complete a nomination paper and submit it in person to Shropshire Council before the statutory deadline. This year, the nomination packs will also be made available by Shropshire Council electronically. The nomination pack will include the nomination form, the consent form, a request for the Electoral Register (only to be used for election purposes) and an expenses form.

You can download forms here:

https://shropshire.gov.uk/electionsandelectoralregistration/votingandelections/townandparishelections6may2021/

or request an election pack by emailing elections@shropshire.gov.uk or telephoning 03456789015

The Town Council will receive the ‘Notice of Election’ on Monday 15 March and will be displayed it on the noticeboards and on the website. The Notice will contain all the dates, times, and venues for the delivery of Nomination Papers. Once the Notice has been posted by Shropshire Council the Council is officially in ‘Purdah’ and Councillors need to be careful about the decisions made at Council meetings.

  Election timetable

Item Date
Notice of Election Monday 15th March 2021
Deadline for delivery of nomination papers 4:00 pm Thursday 8 April 2021
Publication of statement of persons nominated Not later than 4pm on Friday 9 April 2021
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