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.

You can visit your local city, borough or district council's website for more information about standing in the county council elections:

Basildon
Braintree
Brentwood
Castle Point
Chelmsford
Colchester
Epping Forest
Harlow
Maldon
Rochford
Tendring
Uttlesford

Notices of Election

You can view the notices of election for each County Council division on our Notices of Election page.

Find out more:

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

• read GOV.UK's guidance on campaigning during lockdown and approach to elections during Covid-19

• read the Local Government Association's information and guidance for the May 2021 elections

• view the Ordnance Survey's election maps to see electoral boundaries.