Becoming a councillor

Who can be a councillor?

To be a councillor you must:

• be a British citizen, Irish citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a qualifying EU citizen, or an EU citizen with retained rights – check if you’re eligible on the Electoral Commission website
• be at least 18 years old
• be registered to vote in the area from the time you submit your nomination and onwards
• own or rent land or premises in Hackney for at least a year before submitting your nomination
• have worked in Hackney for at least a year before submitting your nomination – if you have more than one job, your main job must be in Hackney
• have lived in Hackney for at least a year before submitting your nomination

Who cannot be a councillor

You cannot be a Hackney councillor if you work for Hackney Council – or you work in a politically restricted role at any local council.

You also cannot be a councillor if you:

• have been sentenced to prison for 3 months or more (including suspended sentences) during the 5 years before election day
• have been convicted or a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court
• be subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order
• be subject to the notification required under Part 2 Sexual Offences Act 2003
• have been convicted of an intimidatory criminal offence motivated by hostility towards a candidate, future candidate, campaigner or holder of a
• relevant elective office
• have been convicted of an offence under the Localism Act 2011 which carries with it a period of disqualification

How to become a councillor

Councillors can either represent a political group or stand as an independent candidate. If you want to represent a political group you must contact their local branch as soon as possible. They will advise you further about standing to represent them.

If you plan to stand as an independent councillor, you should contact the electoral services team at electoralservices@hackney.gov.uk or 020 8356 3232.

Whether you are standing as a member of a political party or as an independent councillor, you will need to be officially nominated. This means getting 2 registered electors from the ward you’re standing in to sign your nomination papers. This must be submitted with other relevant paperwork.

Nomination packs are available from our elections office or from the Electoral Commission.

Apply to be a councillor for the local elections 2026

To submit a nomination to become a councillor, you must book an appointment with the Returning Officer in Electoral Services.

You can book an appointment by emailing electoralservices@hackney.gov.uk or calling 020 8356 3232.

Appointments will take place at Hackney Town Hall after we publish the notice of election.

You can book for Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) between 10am and 4pm.

You will not be able to book an appointment for after 4pm on Thursday 9 April, which is the deadline for submitting nominations.

Pay

Councillors do not receive a salary. However they do get a member’s allowance in recognition of their time and expenses occurred while on council business.