Handing in your nomination

If you want to be a candidate in the elections in May 2026, you must hand in a nomination.

You can get a nomination pack on the Electoral Commission website : District election nomination pack 

We will offer an informal check on all nominations we receive. The checks will be available from Monday, 9 March 2026. They will continue until the end of the nomination period. Candidates can send nomination papers for checking by email to returningofficer@wakefield.gov.uk.

The nomination period for the May 2026 elections begins on 19 March 2026 and ends at 4.00pm on 9 April 2026. Nomination papers can only be formally submitted on or between these dates.

We will have an online system in place so that candidates can book their own appointment. A link to the appointment system will be added to this page in early March 2026. We would prefer all candidates as far as possible to make an appointment. We will also be happy to receive nominations without an appointment.

Important: if you are formally submitting a nomination paper it must be hand delivered to the Electoral Services office, now based on the ground floor of Wakefield Town Hall.

To visit us, please come to Town Hall reception during normal office hours. We have a doorbell on the reception desk. A member of our team will come to meet you in reception and bring you through to our offices

Anyone wishing to stand as a candidate and/or their agents should contact us using the new email address of returningofficer@wakefield.gov.uk.

We will still pick up emails to our other email address but that may take longer than using the new address.

If you need something urgent then please call the Electoral Services team on 01924 305023.