Buckinghamshire Local Elections Overview

Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master title style 1 May 2025 Buckinghamshire Local Elections Click to edit Master subtitle style Click to edit Master subtitle style 31 January 2025 & 7 March 2025 BALC Information Session to Town & Parish Councils 28/06/2025 1 28/06/2025 1

Electoral Services Returning Officer (RO) /Electoral Registration Officer (ERO): Sarah Ashmead, Deputy Chief Executive Lisa Marie Williams (Service Director: Law & Governance/Deputy RO/ERO) Ian Hunt (Head of Electoral Services/Deputy RO & ERO) Mat Bloxham (Electoral Services Manager/Deputy RO & ERO) Charlotte Ashley (Senior Electoral Services Officer) Sam Dear (Electoral Services Officer) Barbara Jeffries (Electoral Services Officer) Nikki Jones (Electoral Services Officer) Phil Barker (Trainee Electoral Services Officer) Hannah Dale (Trainee Electoral Services Officer)

Overview Contact Information Election overview Key dates Nominations Count arrangements BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Electoral Services 01296 798141 elections@buckinghamshire.gov.uk The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF Current and upcoming elections: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/elections- and-voting/current-and-previous-elections-in- buckinghamshire/election-timetable-and-notices/ BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Election Overview: 1 May 2025 Buckinghamshire Council 49 wards (new boundaries) Ward maps: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/buckinghamshire 97 councillors white ballot papers Town & Parish Councils 219 parishes/wards Some changes (next slide) green ballot papers BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Town/Parish changes Aylesbury Town Council: ward changes Buckingham Town Council: ward changes Burnham & Dorney Parishes: parish boundary change Chalfont St Peter Parish: ward changes Gerrards Cross Town Council: ward changes Hazlemere Parish: 16 councillors (+4) Longwick cum Ilmer Parish: 9 councillors (+2) Newton Longville Parish: 10 councillors (+2) Stoke Mandeville Parish: ward changes Weston Turville Parish: ward changes BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Candidate & Agent Briefings Candidate & Agent Briefing #1 Candidate & Agent Briefing #1 Tuesday 4 March, 6pm, Teams Live Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup- join/19%3ameeting_OWFkM2FjNjAtY2VkYy00NDEzLWI1N2YtNDZiOTg3ZmM2ZDg0%40t hread.v2/0?context=%7B%22Tid%22%3A%227fb976b9-9e28-48e1-8086- 1ddabecf82a0%22%2C%22Oid%22%3A%22dd7f2b87-e244-429e-9ad6- 9a1306e81e59%22%2C%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3Atrue%2C%22role%22%3A%22 a%22%7D&btype=a&role=a Candidate & Agent Briefing #2 Candidate & Agent Briefing #2 Thursday 6 March, 6pm, Teams Live link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup- join/19%3ameeting_YjRmNDVhMGEtM2E1YS00ZGZkLThiNzgtYjg3OTE5MWUyMzI1%40t hread.v2/0?context=%7B%22Tid%22%3A%227fb976b9-9e28-48e1-8086- 1ddabecf82a0%22%2C%22Oid%22%3A%22dd7f2b87-e244-429e-9ad6- 9a1306e81e59%22%2C%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3Atrue%2C%22role%22%3A%22 a%22%7D&btype=a&role=a BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Key dates Tuesday 18 March: Notice of Election published, pre-election period starts, Poll card despatch Candidate nomination receipt: Tuesday 18 March to Wednesday 2 April, 10am-4pm, weekdays Two evenings to 8pm: Wednesday 19 March & 26 March The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF Thursday 3 April: List of candidates published BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Key dates Friday 11 April: Deadline to register to vote www.gov.uk/register_to_vote Monday 14 April (5pm): Deadline to apply for a new postal vote, change or cancel an existing postal vote https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote Wednesday 23 April (5pm): Deadline to apply for a new proxy vote / Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Key dates Parish candidate expenses: Thursday 29 May Unitary candidate expenses: Thursday 5 June To be returned to Electoral Services Polling Day Thursday 1 May: Polls open from 7am to 10pm 355 polling stations 253 polling venues Unitary ballot papers (White) Parish ballot papers (Green, for those contested) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Voter ID Electors must bring acceptable photo ID with them to be able to vote at a polling station. The list of acceptable photo ID is available to view via: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting- and-elections/voter-id We recommend they also bring their poll card, but this is optional. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Postal Vote Handling Electors voting by post should return their postal ballot pack in enough time so that it arrives with the RO before 10pm on polling day. Anyone hand delivering a postal ballot pack to a polling station, on polling day, or to The Gateway Office, during office hours, must complete a postal vote handling form, or the postal ballot pack will be rejected. A person hand delivering postal ballot packs may only hand in a maximum of 5, plus their own. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Verification & Counts Stoke Mandeville Stadium Attendance strictly limited - No public admission Friday 2 May: Morning, verification Parish/Unitary ballot papers 1pm the counting of votes for Buckinghamshire Council wards/seats Saturday 3 May: 9am, the counting of votes for Town and Parish wards/seats Results will be declared following the counting of each ward/seat. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Nominations Nomination papers must be hand delivered to a Deputy hand delivered to a Deputy Returning Officer Returning Officer at: The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF from Tuesday 18 March and no later than 4pm on Wednesday 2 April 2025 Wednesday 2 April 2025 weekdays between 10am-4pm two evening sessions to 8pm: Wednesday 19 March & 26 March no later than 4pm on BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Nominations Use the nomination forms available from the Electoral Commission website Hard copies available on request Nomination forms can be delivered by parish clerks, collectively and individually Original signed forms must be provided. Candidates can deliver their own. Recommend early delivery Drop in system (may need to wait) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Nominations Candidates must use the Electoral Commission guidance to check eligibility to stand for election before completing their nomination papers: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance- candidates-parish-council-elections-england/what-you-need-know- you-stand-a-candidate/qualifications-and-disqualifications- standing-election/qualifications Candidates are responsible for ensuring that they are eligible to stand for election and are not disqualified. Parish Clerks or Electoral Services cannot confirm if a candidate is eligible or disqualified from standing for election. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Nomination papers 1a:Nominationpaper 1b: Homeaddress form (part 1 and part 2) 1c: Candidate s consent to nomination (including the pages of legislation) Optional Optional 2: Certificate of authorisation (required to use a political party name or description) 3: Request fora party emblem (requiredto usea political party s emblem) 4: Notificationofelectionagent (unitaryelectionsonly) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Nomination Forms Parish Parish nomination papers: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-parish- council-elections-england/nominations/completing-your-nomination- papers Unitary Unitary nomination papers: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and- agents-local-government-elections-england/nominations/completing- your-nomination-papers/nomination-form Candidates must use the correct and latest version of the nomination forms BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Support Buckinghamshire local election webpage: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and- voting/current-and-previous-elections-in-buckinghamshire/election- timetable-and-notices/ List of wards Guidance Nomination forms (New versions - always use the latest EC version) Annotated nomination papers (available from 3 March) Electorate figures (available from 3 March) Electoral Services Providing elector numbers or answering questions not covered in the EC guidance BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Support Electoral Commission: Candidates/Agents infoengland@electoralcommission.org.uk 0333 103 1928 party registration or registration of other regulated groups: partyreg@electoralcommission.org.uk political finance or financial reporting: pef@electoralcommission.org.uk BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Nominations Electoral Register, 3 March: version for checking subscribers on nomination papers The register should be used by candidates to ensure that their nomination is properly subscribed (signed by a proposer and seconder) by two electors on the local government electoral register in the parish or, if the parish is warded, in the parish ward. Candidates, if not already councillors, may use this form to request a register: https://tinyurl.com/ycyktkbj Completed register request forms may be sent to: elections@buckinghamshire.gov.uk BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Register Requests Town/parish clerks may request a free copy of the electoral register for their Town/Parish area by completing the relevant form and by posting/emailing it to the relevant elections team. Town/Parish Councillors may also request a free copy of the electoral register for the parish area or parish ward, if warded, they are elected to. Completed register request forms may be sent to elections@buckinghamshire.gov.uk BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Election Costs As per previous elections, Town and Parish Councils will be invoiced the parish costs relating to their Town and Parish election once polls are completed. Estimated costs are available on request by emailing elections@buckinghamshire.gov.uk Costs will vary depending on whether a Town/Parish has contested or un-contested elections (fewer nominations are received than there are seats available). BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Elected Councillor name/addresses Parish Clerks will be sent the name and address of elected councillors: by 11 April candidates elected uncontested By 6 May candidates elected at election BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Questions The submission of nominations forms is not a parish council function, it is an activity for candidates in their personal capacity so isn t an activity that could be claimed via a parish s mileage scheme. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL