If you are interested in standing for election as a county councillor, we have prepared this page as a guide for you. To become a county councillor you would need to be elected to one of the 73 seats on the council, representing a local electoral division.

The date of the next County Council election is Thursday 4th June 2009. If you wish to stand for Election you must be:

• A British citizen, a citizen of the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland or of another European Union State.
• Over 18 years of age.
• Included on the Register of Electors for Northamptonshire, or have either lived or worked in Northamptonshire for 12 months preceding the election.

You cannot stand as a councillor if:

• In the last 5 years you have been in prison or on a suspended sentence for 3 months or more.
• You have been declared bankrupt.
• You are an employee of Northamptonshire County Council.
• You have been disqualified.

The nomination process

To stand as a candidate in the election, you will need to complete a set of nomination papers. These will be available from your local district or borough council once the formal Notice of Election has been published on 28 April 2009.

The Electoral Services office of your local district or borough council will also be able to answer any questions you may have about the nomination process.

When you complete the nomination papers, you will need to show that you have been formally nominated by ten electors who are registered to vote in the electoral division in which you want to stand:

• two electors as your proposer and seconder
• eight other electors who support your nomination

You do not have to be a member of a political party to stand as a candidate.

If you are interested in standing for election as a councillor and have any questions that are not answered on this page, please contact us.