Please refer to the following websites for guidance on local elections:
https://members.greenparty.org.uk/LE24
INFORMATION ON LOCAL ELECTIONS 2024
ELECTIONS – WHAT’S NEW AND WHERE TO GET HELP
Local Council Elections May 2024
In 2024 we are going to make big strides towards our 2025 goals of getting to 900 councillors. We know that we can elect a significant number of new Greens. We want to make sure we stand candidates in every council this year so pleasejoin us in Mission Full Slate also find out about our advice on the new photographic ID requirements.
2024 legal deadlines
Regulated period begins on the 26th March 2024
(the day after the latest permissible date for a council to publish the notice of election)
| Event | Working Days before poll | Date |
| Deadline for delivery of nominations papers | 19 days (4 pm) | 05/04/2024 |
| Deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers | 19 days (4 pm) | 05/04/2024 |
| Deadline for the notification of a appointment of election agent | 19 days (4 pm) | 05/04/2024 |
| Publication of first interim election notice of alteration | 19 days (4 pm) | 05/04/2024 |
| Publication of statement of persons nominated | Not later than 18 days (4pm) | 08/04/2024 |
| Deadline for receiving applications for registration | 12 days | 16/04/2024 |
| Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes | 11 days (5 pm) | 17/04/2024 |
| Deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) | 6 days (5pm) | 24/04/2024 |
| Deadline for notification of appointment of polling and counting agents | 5 days | 25/04/2024 |
| First date that electors can apply for a replacement for lost postal votes | 4 days | 26/04/2024 |
| Polling day | 0 ( 7am to 10 pm) | 02/05/2024 |
| Last time for re-issue of spoilt or lost postal votes | 0 (5 pm) | 02/05/2024 |
| Deadline for emergency proxy vote applications | 0 (5 pm) | 02/05/2024 |
| Deadline of return as election expenses (excluding parish councils) | No later than 35 calendar days after the date the election results is declared |
Tuesday 26th March 2024 is the earliest date (and usually the standard date) any candidate’s election expenses period can begin, i.e. the day after the earliest date anyone is legally considered a candidate (although you can call yourself a candidate sooner.
Electoral Commission Guidance for candidates and agents:
Guidance for Candidates and Agents at local government elections in England | Electoral Commission
When do the candidate spending and donation rules apply?
We call the time when the spending and donation rules apply the ‘regulated period’. The regulated period for the 2024 local government elections in England begins on the day after the date you officially become a candidate and ends on polling day, 2 May 2024.
When does a person officially become a candidate?
The earliest date you can officially become a candidate is the last date for publication of the notice of election, which will be Tuesday 26th March 2024. You will become a candidate on this date if you or others have already announced your intention to stand. For example, your party may have issued a press release when you were selected, or you might have mentioned your intention at a residents’ meeting. If your intention to stand has not been announced by 26 March 2024, you will officially become a candidate on the earlier of:
• the date your intention to stand is announced
• the date when you submit your nomination papers This must be prior to the close of nominations, which is 4pm on Friday 5 April 2024
Non-Target Candidates May 2024
There will be many seats up for election in England. This year we are asking local parties to field a full slate of candidates. Starting earlier than usual to fill the thousands of seats in this bumper year of elections. The BIG NEWS is that the law has changed and you will only need to collect 2 signatories rather than the usual 10 for nominations. Take a look at our full briefing on non-target candidate recruitment
If we stand in every ward, it means more Green votes, which means more media coverage, which means more members, resources and stronger campaigns in the future.
While we are not able to actively contest a seat to try to win, we still seek to give the chance for voters to vote Green. This means we need many Green members to have their name on the ballot paper; the likelihood to get elected when a seat is not actively contested is very close to zero.
We have some dedicated resources for you to use in your local party to help you to recruit non target candidates.
Could you volunteer to be a non-target candidate? If so please speak to your local party officers or contact your field organiser.
Photographic ID and Voter ID introduced in May 2023 for England
From May 2023, voters across England will be required to bring photo ID to vote in person at a polling station. A new form of identification, the Voter Authority Certificate, will be introduced as a form of ID for those who do not have another form of eligible ID.
Find our advice here on how to ensure your Green voters know about this change.
We have also updated the polling day and some eve of poll templates in the literature and templates section of the website.
Support for your Election campaigns – Professional staff here to help
There is a range of very useful and extremely comprehensive guidance on running an election campaign in the ‘How to Win Local Elections’ manual and on the Elections pages of this members website.
Each year, the Party runs Campaign School, a year-long programme to train budding campaign managers in how to run a professional election-winning campaign. Campaign School begins with a four-day residential followed by monthly coaching circles and mentoring. Campaign School has been transformational in helping secure new council seats across the country.
The number one resource is your regional or Wales Field Organiser, a team of professional campaign experts who can assist you to build your local party and help you put together and deliver a winning campaign plan. If you do nothing else, get in touch with your Field Organiser to plan your campaign.
