Local Government elections

North Kesteven has the following tiers of local government:

Lincolnshire County Council
North Kesteven District Council
Town and Parish Councils

When do these elections take place?

Elections to Lincolnshire County Council, North Kesteven District Council and all Town and Parish Councils within the district take place every 4 years. All local government elections within North Kesteven are ‘all-out’ elections, ie all the positions for councillors are elected at the same time.

The last Lincolnshire County Council elections took place on 6 May 2021. Scheduled District and Town/Parish Council elections always take place on the same date and were last held in May 2019. The next elections are scheduled to take place on 4 May 2023.

Results of previous elections.

What are the local government election areas within North Kesteven?

Lincolnshire County Council

Lincolnshire County Councillors represent an electoral area called a county division. There are 70 county divisions for Lincolnshire, 11 of which are within the North Kesteven district, and these came into force following a review of county divisions in 2016.

Details of the current Lincolnshire County Councillors representing the North Kesteven area.

North Kesteven District Council

North Kesteven District Councillors represent an electoral area called a district ward. There are currently 43 district councillors representing 26 wards within North Kesteven and the wards are represented by 1, 2 or 3 councillors depending on their size. These are known as single-member, two member or three member wards respectively, with the latter two also being called multi-member wards.

The current wards have recently been reviewed by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and the review is now complete. New district wards will take effect at the elections to be held in 2023. More details regarding the electoral review.

Details of the current North Kesteven District Councillors.

Parish and Town Councils

There are 58 Parish Councils and 2 Town Councils (serving Sleaford and North Hykeham) within the North Kesteven area. More details regarding Parish Council elections.

Add ‘Details of current Parish and Town Councillors’ as link to Parish councils contact details | North Kesteven District Council (n-kesteven.gov.uk)

Who can vote at local government elections?

To vote at local elections you must be registered to vote and:

be 18 or over on the day of the election - "polling day"
be a British, Irish, qualifying Commonwealth or EU citizen
be resident at an address in England or Wales
not be legally excluded from voting

How is a County or District Councillor elected?

Councillors are elected using the First Past the Post system, where the candidate that receives the most votes is elected. For County Council elections each elector can vote for only one of the candidates standing in their division and this is the same for single-member district wards at District Council elections. In 2 or 3 multi-member district wards electors can vote for 2 or 3 candidates respectively and the candidates that receive the most votes will be elected to fill the available seats.

Who can stand for election as a County or District Councillor?

Any person who wishes to stand as a councillor must submit nomination papers during the relevant period, which will be set out in the election timetable.

Important information for prospective candidates and agents can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Qualifications for standing as a candidate

To be able to stand as a candidate at a local government election in England and Wales you must:

be at least 18 years old on the day of your nomination
be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth Citizen or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union
meet at least one of the following four qualifications:

You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the local authority area (i.e. county or district) in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the local authority area.
You have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

Disqualifications from standing as a candidate

Apart from meeting the qualifications for standing for election, you must also not be disqualified from standing. There are certain people who are disqualified from being elected to a local authority in England and Wales.

You cannot be a candidate if at the time of your nomination and on the day of the election:

You are employed by the local authority or hold a paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees). Note that you may be ‘employed by the local authority’, for example, if you work at certain schools, fire services, police or health services. This list is not exhaustive.
You hold a politically restricted post.
You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day.
You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices).
You are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or application in respect of the order or notification has passed.

More information

At the time of an election more detailed information for voters, candidates and agents, including the election timetable will be found on our forthcoming election and referendum dates pages.

More information regarding the role and work of County Councillors.

More information regarding the role and work of District Councillors.

More information on types of elections and who can vote.

For any more information please read the Electoral Commission’s guidance.

Find out here who your current local District or County Councillor is.