TOWN

1
TOWN PARISH ELECTIONS 3 MAY 2007

• Briefing for Town Parish Clerks

2
Elections Team

• Returning Officer Steve Wellings
• Deputy Returning Officer Ken Clarke
• Deputy Returning Officer Susan Kembrey
• Democratic Services Manager Phil Griffiths
• Electoral Services Manager Melvin Humphreys

3
Elections 3 May 2007

• Parish Clerks have a very valued role to play
• To provide you with the information that you
  may need at this time
• To briefly introduce some legislative changes
  in the way elections are run
• To give you guidance on the nomination stage
• To give you guidance on your duties after the
  election

4
The Election Timetable Key Dates

• Nominations 9-30 am to 4-30 pm every day from
  26th March till noon on 4th April
• Statement of Persons Nominated noon 5th April
• Withdrawals noon 11th April
• Postal Voting Applications 18th April
• Last date to get on the Register 18th April
• Polling day and the Count 3rd May

5
Electoral Administration Act 2006

• Some changes already in place
• polling hours 7am to 10 pm
• emergency proxy voters
• Changes to the statutory timetable
• postal voting 18th April
• registering to vote 18th April
• Changes to Nominations
• 18, commonly used names, minor clerical errors

6
Electoral Administration Act continued

• The new postal voting requirements
• checking signatures and dates of birth
• In the polling station
• no counterfoils
• no stamping instruments
• Keeping the voters informed
• Insight, pollcards, press releases, our website
• Coordinated Publicity Media Strategy

7
Candidates Who can stand for election?

• Citizenship British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU
• Age now 18
• The four qualifications
• on the register of electors
• own or tenant land
• principal or only place of work
• live in parish or within 3 miles of it

8
Candidates - Nominations

• Nomination Packs now available
• The Register of Electors
• Clerks to help or not to help?
• The Candidates Guide
• Other Guidance

9
Nominations Basic Rules

• Surname and other names
• Commonly used names
• Description 6 word rule party political
• Address
• Proposer and Seconder
• Consent to nomination
• which of the four qualifications
• date of birth
• witness signature

10
Close of Nominations

• Statement of Persons Nominated
• noon, Thursday 5th April
• Withdrawals
• noon, Wednesday 11th April
• Uncontested elections
• insufficient or the exact number of
  nominations
• Co-option - by 21st June

11
Contested Elections

• Notice of Poll
• published 25th April
• Polling Day
• 3rd May
• The Count
• TCAT night of 3rd May

12
After the election

• Report to the Clerk persons elected
• Council retires on the fourth day after election
  day
• Notice to the elected candidates with
  declaration and return of expenses forms
• Declaration of acceptance of office
• Register of Interests and Dispensations
• Recharge of the costs of the election

13

• Any Questions ?