Parish Council elections

There are 58 Parish Councils and 2 Town Councils (serving Sleaford and North Hykeham) within the North Kesteven area. Both Town Councils and 4 of the Parish Councils (Heckington, Rauceby, South Hykeham and Waddington) are split into Parish Wards, with candidates standing for and being elected to represent a particular ward.

‘All out’ Parish Council elections take place every 4 years to coincide with elections to the District Council. The last Parish Council elections took place on 4 May 2023 and the next scheduled elections will be on Thursday 6 May 2027. 

Previous election results

A ‘casual vacancy’ can occur at any time in a councillor’s normal term of office if a councillor dies, resigns, fails to complete their declaration of acceptance of office in the specified time period, fails to attend meetings for a period of 6 consecutive months or becomes disqualified. 

More details on the casual vacancy process.

If ten electors request an election during the specified time period following the display of a Notice of Vacancy the normal election process will be followed. If the vacancy relates to a Parish Ward the election will be for that ward only. 

Who can vote at a Parish/Town Council election?

To vote at local elections you must be registered to vote within the parish (or within the Parish Ward if the election is for a particular ward only) 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 Parish/Town Councillor elected?

Councillors are elected using the First Past the Post system, where the candidates that receive the most votes are elected to fill the number of seats which are available. Electors will be able to vote for as many candidates as there are vacant seats – at normal elections this will be for all the councillor seats on the Parish/Town Council, which vary in size. 

If less candidates stand than the number of available seats these candidates will be elected as councillors without a vote having to take place. This is called an uncontested election and is quite common at scheduled Parish/Town Council elections. 

Who can stand for election as a Parish/Town 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 Parish Council 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:
  1. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
  2. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
  3. 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 parish.
  4. You have lived in the parish or within three miles of it 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 Parish Council 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 Parish Council or hold a paid office under the Parish Council.
  • 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.