Standing for election

If you are considering becoming a councillor, you can find some useful information on the Local Governments Association website. The website outlines what councils and councillors do, what you will need to do to take your first steps and all about the role andĀ the support you can expect.

Standing for North Somerset Council

If you are considering standing as a candidate for North Somerset Council, information on current arrangements can be found on this website.

Standing for a town or parish council

If you are considering standing as a candidate for a town or parish council and would like more information on what being a parish councillor in your local area involves, you should contact the relevant town or parish council.

You can read more about standing as a candidate and the election process on this page.

Nomination papers

Completed nomination forms must be delivered to the returning officer at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare between 10am and 4pm on any weekday between Tuesday 21 March and Tuesday 4 April 2023.

The closing date for receipt of nominations is Tuesday 4 April 2023 at 4pm, however we advise you to deliver your nomination before this date.

Our nomination packs should be used as they are bespoke to each election.

Informal checks booking process

We are offering an informal check of your nomination paper by appointment only, between 10am and 4pm on any weekday between Tuesday 21 March and Monday 3 April 2023.

We advise anyone wishing to put themselves forward to take advantage of this as any issues can be identified before your forms are formally submitted. Once your forms have been formally submitted, we are unable to return them to you to make any amendments.

We can do the check in person at the Town Hall, virtually on Microsoft Teams or over the telephone. We will need you to email over a copy of your nomination pack, along with your contact details in advance of your appointment.

We will not check any nomination paper that has been emailed to us until the time of the appointment.

Please emailĀ candidates@n-somerset.gov.uk to book your appointment.

Prospective candidates briefing

We held an online briefing in February for those who want to stand as a candidate.