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How to become a Councillor

Local elections take place three out of every four years in order to re-elect one third of the city council.  Portsmouth has 42 councillors - three for each of its 14 wards. One seat in every ward is contested at each election.

To qualify as a candidate for election to a local authority you must be aged at least 18 years and be a British citizen, a citizen of another Commonwealth country, a citizen of the Irish Republic, or a citizen of another member state of the European Union. You must also be registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you wish to stand, or have lived or worked or owned land or premises in the local authority area for the past 12 months.

You may be disqualified as a candidate if you work for the city council or hold a politically restricted post with another local authority.  Bankruptcy or a previous criminal conviction with a three-month or more prison sentence would also disqualify you as a candidate.

Most candidates are nominated through a political party.  However, individuals are welcome to stand in their own right. Before you can be accepted as a candidate your nomination form must be signed by ten registered electors from the ward in which you are standing as a candidate.

To request a nomination form please contact:

Election Services
Portsmouth City Council
Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth PO1 2QR

Tel: 023 9283 4074
email: Elections

 

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