Pre-Election Period
As you will be aware on 1 May 2025 North Northamptonshire Council local and Parish Council elections will be held. The Pre-election period (PEP) will start from the publication of the notice of election. This will be publishing this on 7 March 2025.
Pre-election restrictions apply to all local authorities, including local parish and town councils. The Pre-election period describes the period immediately before elections or referendum’s when specific restrictions on communications activity are in place. There is further guidance at the following link https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/communications-and-community-engagement/pre-election-period
Below is a brief summary of the election process to help parish council prepare for the elections.
Election Process
Publication of Notice of Election – Please find attached Notice of Election for these elections. Publication of Notice of Election marks the start of the official election timetable and the date from which candidates can submit nomination papers. The notice also provides additional information in relation to the submission of nomination papers as well as the registration, voter authority certificate and absent voting deadlines.
Nominations – Each candidate standing for election must complete a nomination paper. A template nomination paper can be downloaded from the Electoral Commission website (please see below). The period for submitting nominations will start on 10 March and there will be opportunities to deliver nomination papers outside of normal working hours. Completed nomination papers must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer at Municipal Offices, Bowling Green Road, Kettering, NN15 7QX by the deadline which is 4pm on 2 April 2025. Please note that the earliest date that a candidate’s consent to nomination can be signed is within one calendar month of the deadline for submitting nomination papers.
Municipal Offices are anticipating a high number of nomination papers will be submitted, therefore it would be helpful for a person to be designated to deliver nomination papers on behalf of other candidates where possible. Municipal Offices acknowledge that some candidates may wish to deliver their own nomination pack, however, to maintain efficiency in processing and to minimise environmental impact we would ask that where possible one person is nominated to deliver the papers in one visit. If contact details are provided for each candidate (please see the attached candidate contact details form) we will contact them direct if there are any queries, otherwise we will contact the designated person that has delivered the nomination papers. We would ask that where possible an appointment is made for the delivery of nomination papers. Further details are given in the Notice of Election.
Contested/Uncontested election – A statement of persons nominated will be published for each parish detailing the candidates that have been and stand validly nominated. This information will be published on our North Northamptonshire Council website by 4pm on 3 April 2025. If the number of candidates nominated exceeds the number of seats on the parish council, an election will be held. The election will be combined with the North Northamptonshire Council ward elections taking place on the same day. If the number of candidates is equal to or fewer than the number of seats the Returning Officer will declare an uncontested election result. In this instance we will send each parish clerk a notice of uncontested election or a link to our website where the notices have been published.
Counting of Votes – The verification of ballot papers will start on the morning of Friday 2 May 2025. The count will take place on Saturday 3 May 2025. Candidates will be notified of the arrangements for the count including the appointment of counting agents and the attendance of guests.
Results – the declaration of result will be made on the completion of the count for each contested election. The results will be published on the North Northamptonshire Council website and via our social media channels. The parish clerk for each contested election will be invited to attend the count should they wish to introduce themselves to their newly elected members and make arrangements for the completion of relevant paperwork.
Further Information: Additional resources for candidates are available via the Electoral Commission Website:
Guidance for candidates: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-parish-council-elections-england
Nomination Paper Template: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-parish-council-elections-england/nominations/completing-your-nomination-papers/nomination-form. Please see attached. Candidates need to ensure that where a parish is warded, that the ward name is included in the relevant box
Candidate Expenses: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-parish-council-elections-england/after-election/completing-your-return It is a legal requirement that each candidate at the election completes and submits a record of their campaign expenditure. Where no expenditure was incurred a NIL return must be submitted.
Further information including key dates during the election timetable is available on the North Northamptonshire Council website at: https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/upcoming-elections/north-northamptonshire-council-and-town-and-parish-council
Notice of Election for Parish Council
Notice of Election for Town and Grouped Warded Parish Councils
