There is a vacancy for a Sandgate Parish Councillor following the death of Robert Bliss last year. As an election was called, the by-election for the Sandgate Village ward position will take place on Thursday 6th May.
To put yourself forward for an election you must complete a nomination form. To request a nomination pack please contact the Returning Officer by email at elections@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk. Although the nominations period hasn’t officially started, you may receive the nomination pack in advance to read the instructions in your own time.
Most of the nomination pack is self-explanatory but if you would like to ask anything about the form or the process, please give Paul Butler an email on paul.butler@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk. There may be some elements of the form that require you to seek your own legal advice. Paul will let you know if this is the case.
The Notice of Election will include instructions of where you need to submit the nomination forms (by hand). This will be published online at www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/elections/upcoming-elections on Friday 19 March 2021 and also on the Parish/Town noticeboard.
You may submit nomination papers from Monday 22 March 2021, from 10am. Given the circumstances, Anyone that approaches the Returning Officer via email, expressing an interest in standing will be asked nearer the time to set up a timed appointment slot so we can keep contact and wait times to a minimum. That said, you do not have to have an appointment to submit nomination papers between the dates and times stated on the Notice of Election.
The Returning Officer will be providing a briefing to candidates and agents after nominations have closed. The date for this will be circulated nearer the time.
There is a lot of useful information for candidates on the Electoral Commission’s website with regards to campaign spending, code of conduct, etc. There address is http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent.