2nd May 2024 will be election day for

• Dorset Council - 84 member seats
• Town & Parish Councils - Milton Abbas - 9 vacancies
• Police & Crime Commissioner
• Potentially a Parliamentary Election

This page will be updated with news and information as it's released, but please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Clerk, Liz, or any one of the Councillors if you would like more information.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO STAND FOR ELECTION

On the day of nomination and on Polling day Candidates must be

• At least 18 years of age
• A British, qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or qualifying national of an EU member state
• A prospective candidate must also meet at least one of the following four qualifications

1. they are registered as a local government elector for the parish or town council area in which they wish to stand; or
2. they have, during the whole of the previous 12 month period occupied as owner or tenant any land or premises in the parish or town council area; or
3. their main or only place of work during the whole of the previous 12 month period has been in the parish or town council area; or
4. they have, during the whole of the previous 12 month period, lived in the parish or town council area (or within 4.8km/3 miles of it)

A person cannot be a candidate if at the time of their nomination or their election;

• they are employed by the Parish Council or hold  a paid office under that council; or
• they are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order in England or Wales; or
• they have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including suspended sentence) without the option of a fine, during the five years before election day (i.e. since 2 May 2019); or
• a person may also be disqualified from election if they have been convicted or reported guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court, or if they have been disqualified from standing for election to a local authority

KEY DATES

Now is the time to ensure that your name is on the Electoral Register so that you can support your community and vote. Copies of the Electoral Register are kept at post offices, libraries and by town and parish clerks so a quick check to make sure your name is there would take no time at all. It’s your right to vote, so don’t miss out.

March

• Nomination forms are available here
• 11th March Notice of Election will be published
• 12th March Nominations can be received from today ** Must be delivered by hand
• **The Clerk will be happy to hand deliver your nomination form on your behalf

​April

• 5th April 4pm deadline of receipt of nominations or withdrawal of nomination
• 8th April 4pm publication of Statement of Persons Nominated
• 24th April publication of Notice of Poll

May

• 2nd May Polling Day
• 3rd May count for Dorset Council*
• 4th May count for parishes*
• 5th May count for Police and Crime Commissioner*
• *All to be set back one day if Parliamentary Elections also take place

CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS

• Every polling station voter will be required to show photographic ID to be able to vote
• Free Voter Authority Certificates are available if you do not have existing photo ID
• Voters can apply online for a postal vote - now valid for 3 years (indefinite postal votes removed)
• Voters, family members and carers can hand in a maximum of 5 postal votes in addition to their own
• You can be a proxy for a maximum of 4 voters (only 2 of which can live in the UK)

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Electoral Commission Key Resources

NALC Be a Councillor

NALC Make a Change

Dorset Council Election 2024

Dorset Council Narrated guide to completing nomination forms

Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils Tel: 01305 260972 Email: [email protected]

The National Association of Local Councils http://www.nalc.gov.uk/

The Electoral Commission http://www.electoralcommission.gov.uk/

Do Politics (Politics for Young People) http://www.dopolitics.org.uk/

Communities and Local Government http://www.communities.gov.uk

Direct.gov http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en

Department for Constitutional Affairs http://www.dca.gov.uk/