Your councillor

Who can be a councillor?

To stand in a county council election you must be:

• at least 18 years old
• a British, Commonwealth or EU citizen

Additionally, you must have either:

• lived
• worked
• owned or rented land or premises

in the Essex County Council area for the whole 12 months before nominations are made, or been registered as a local government elector from the day of nomination onwards.

Becoming a county councillor

The next county council elections are scheduled for 6 May 2021.

View the election timetable 2021 to find out important dates leading up to the election.

If you’re interested in becoming a county councillor, read our guide for candidates (PDF, 116KB), contact the election team or visit the be a councillor website for more information.

Find out more:

• watch an event about becoming a councillor, held for prospective candidates

• book your place at the Local Elections 2021: Standing for election and campaigning in a COVID-19 context online event run by the Local Government Association (LGA)