Standing as a candidate

Guide to being a candidate or election agent

Completing the nomination paper

You must make sure you read the guidance notes attached to the nomination paper and check the Electoral Commission's Guidance for candidates and agents before completing the nomination form.

You must make sure you add the correct ward name in the relevant box on each form:

  • Weetslade
  • Camperdown
  • Longbenton and Benton
  • Killingworth
  • Forest Hall
  • Backworth and Holystone
  • Wallsend North
  • Battle Hill
  • Wallsend Central
  • Howdon
  • Shiremoor
  • Chirton and Percy Main
  • New York and Murton
  • Preston with Preston Grange
  • Tynemouth
  • Cullercoats and Whitley Bay South
  • North Shields
  • Whitley bay North
  • Monkseaton
  • St Mary’s

1a - Nomination paper

  • add your details in the 'Candidate's surname' and 'Other forenames in full' sections
  • complete the 'Commonly used' surname and forenames sections if you:
    • commonly use a surname or forename that is different from any other surname or forename you have
    • use one or more forenames or surname in a different way from the way they are stated on your nomination form
  • add a 'Description' if required

If you are standing on behalf of a registered political party the description should be the party name, or another description they have registered with the Electoral Commission. The description you enter here must match the description stated on the certificate of authorisation that is signed by the party's Nominating Officer or a deputy.

Please make sure you have checked with your regional office (where appropriate) to make sure you are using the correct party description.

If you are not standing on behalf of a registered political party, you can only use the description 'Independent' or leave this section blank.

If your paper is formally submitted to the Returning Officer with this section blank, only your name and address (or the local authority for your home address) will appear on the ballot paper.

Once the Candidate's Details have been completed in full, including the description where required, the nomination must be supported by two registered electors.

The supporters must be registered in the ward you are standing in and eligible to vote at local government elections. 

Each column must be completed for both supporters:

  • Signature - the person should sign their normal signature (as they would sign a document).

If someone is listed on the electoral register with their full birth name, for example, 'Mary Alice Smith' but goes by, and signs documents, using another name, such as 'Alice Smith', they should sign their name as normal (Alice Smith). We will ask you to confirm this is the same person when checking your nomination paper.

  • Name in capitals - ask the person to print their name using block capitals.
  • Polling district - the 2-digit code (for example AA) that can be found at the top of each page in the register of electors.
  • Elector number - the number to the left of the elector's name in the register of electors.

If you need to check that your supporters are registered and get their elector numbers to add to the nomination paper, you can call the Elections Office on 0191 643 2270.

Your supporter's names will be published on the statement of persons nominated.  You must make sure you are aware of the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

You must make sure supporters are aware of what their personal data will be used for.

1b - Home address form

You must complete Part 1 of the Home Address Form. On this form you need to give:

  • Your full name.
  • Your home address in full.
  • The address(es) that allow you to stand as a candidate (qualifying addresses). You can complete more than one.
  • The full name and address of the person who witnessed your consent to nomination form.

If you do not want your home address to be made public, you must complete and sign Part 2 of the form.

If Part 2 is completed, your home address will not appear on:

  • the statement of persons nominated
  • notice of poll
  • the ballot paper  

Instead, the name of the local authority area for your home address is in will appear.

If you leave Part 2 blank, your home address will appear on the statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and the ballot papers.

You must submit both parts of the home address form, even if your home address is to be made public.

1c - Candidates consent to nomination

You must declare that you meet at least one of the listed qualifications, you can declare more than one qualification if applicable.

Strike through any qualifications that do not apply. Any qualification(s) that apply must match the information given in Part 1 on your home address form.

You must give your date of birth and sign and date the consent form in the presence of a witness.  The witness must also sign the form.  You should record the name and address of the witness in Part 1 on the home address form.

The consent form must not be signed any earlier than Monday 9 March 2026 - one calendar month before the deadline for submitting nomination papers.

By signing the form, you declare that you are not disqualified.  DO NOT sign the form if you are not qualified to stand.

It is a criminal offence to make a false statement on a nomination paper. See Section 65A of the Representation of the People Act 1983. 

You must make sure you read the guidance notes attached to the nomination paper and Part 1 of the Commission's guidance for candidates and agents before completing the nomination form.

2 - Certificate of Authorisation

If you are standing on behalf of a political party, you must have written permission from the Nominating Officer (or a person authorised to act on their behalf) to use the party name, or one of the descriptions registered with the Electoral Commission.

Party names and descriptions are available at Electoral Commission - Registered Party Search and must match exactly, no changes are allowed.

You must check that you have written the correct party description on the nomination paper before getting any signatures.

You can complete the form in the nomination pack and ask the Nominating Officer (or authorised person) to sign it, or supply a form or letter produced by the party which is signed by the Nominating Officer (or authorised person).

This form does not need to be completed if you are not standing on behalf of a registered political party.

3 - Request for a party emblem

If you are standing on behalf of a registered political party, you can ask for an emblem to be printed on the ballot paper.

You must say which registered emblem you want to use (if the party has more than one) and sign the request.

You do not need to complete the form if you are not standing on behalf of a registered political party.

4 - Notification of election agent

Complete this form if you are appointing an election agent.

You can act as your own agent and will default to this if the appointment form is not submitted by the deadline of 4pm on 9 April 2026.

Election agents are responsible for the proper management of your election campaign; particularly its financial management and submission of candidate spending returns after the election.

An election agent can act on behalf of more than one candidate.

Election agent appointments can be revoked at any time. However, once an agent has signed their appointment, they cannot resign. This means they must fulfil the duties required of them unless you revoke the appointment.

If you act as your own agent and do not provide an office address, your home address will be published on the notice of election agents, even if you have requested for this information to be withheld from the statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and ballot paper.