Local Council Elections 2023

Local Council Elections are scheduled to be held in Northern Ireland on Thursday 18 May 2023.

Information for Candidates and Agents

The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland provides the information in the links below for anyone who wants to stand as a candidate in the Local Elections with the relevant forms that are required to be completed.

Candidate Forms

Please note that the 3 April 2023 Electoral Register must be used to complete the subscriber details on the Nomination Paper. You should complete Form 4 in the Candidate Forms below and forward this to the Local Council Office from 3 April to obtain a copy of the register.

Seminars for Candidates and Agents

The Electoral Commission in partnership with the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and Royal Mail will be running information seminars for potential candidates and agents ahead of the 2023 local council elections.

These seminars will offer guidance and support on:

standing as a candidate
the rules on spending and donations
candidate freepost entitlement

Seminar dates:

Wednesday 22 March (Belfast)
Wednesday 29 March (Omagh)
Thursday 30 March (Virtual)

All seminars will take place in the evening

Places are limited. To reserve a place please email infonorthernireland@electoralcommission.org.uk indicating which seminar you’d like to attend.

Local Council Elections Timetable

Event	Deadline (If no time specified the deadline is midnight on that day)
Publication of Notice of Election by the Deputy Returning Officer	11 April 2023
Delivery of nomination papers	10am to 4pm on: 12 April, 13 April 14 April, 17 April, 18 April, 19 April, 20 April, 21 April and from 10am to 1pm on 24 April
Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature	10am to 4pm on: 12 April, 13 April, 14 April, 17 April, 18 April, 19 April, 20 April, 21 April and from 10am to 1pm on 24 April
Receipt of notice of appointment of election agents	1pm on 24 April
The making of objections to nomination papers	10am to 4pm on: 12 April, 13 April, 14 April, 17 April, 18 April, 19 April, 20 April, 21 April and from 10am to 2pm on 24 April
Publication by the Deputy Returning Officer of statement of persons nominated: If no objections to nomination papers made If any objections to nomination papers are made, after they have been disposed of but no later than 24 hours after the deadline for delivery of nomination papers	6pm on 24 April 2023 or as soon as practicable thereafter 1pm on 25 April 2023
Publication by the Deputy Returning Officer of notice of names and addresses of Election Agents	6pm on 24 April 2023 or as soon as practicable thereafter
Receipt at Electoral Office for NI of postal and proxy vote applications	5pm on 26 April 2023
Receipt at Electoral Office for NI of late registration applications	28 April 2023
Receipt at Electoral Office for NI of additional information in relation to late registration applications	9 May 2023
Receipt at Electoral Office for NI of late postal and proxy vote applications	5pm on 10 May 2023
Publication by the Electoral Office for NI of notices of alteration as a result of late registration	11 May 2023
Receipt by the Deputy Returning Officer of notice of appointment of polling and counting agents	5pm on 11 May 2023
Receipt at Electoral Office for NI of spoilt postal votes for replacement	5pm on 17 May 2023
Polling day	7am to 10pm Thursday 18 May 2023
Alterations to the register due to clerical error	7pm on 18 May 2023
Verification of ‘unused’ ballot papers	As soon as practicable after 10pm on Thursday 18 May 2023 (completed overnight)
Verification of ‘used’ ballot papers (the opening of ballot boxes) and the Count	19 May 2023

Note: the above timetable excludes Saturdays (with the exception of the count), Sundays and the following Bank Holidays with exception of the deadline for receipt of additional information in relation to late registration applications which is computed in accordance with regulation 8 of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008:

May Day 1 May 2023
King’s Coronation Bank Holiday 8 May 2023