Information for candidates and agents

Once you officially become a candidate, you are entitled to receive a free copy of the full electoral registers. You are also entitled to the lists of people voting by post or proxy (the lists of 'absent voters’), for the electoral area that you are contesting.

Prospective candidates are entitled to request the electoral register from the last day on which the notice of election can be published, 25 workings from the day of poll.

The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as assisting candidate complete their nomination forms, or making sure only eligible people can vote at a polling station. It is also used for other limited purposes specified in law, such as detecting crime (e.g. fraud), calling people for jury service, and checking credit applications.

Apply

The request must be made in writing and the forms can be accessed below:

1. Register Request Form
2. Absent Voters List Request Form

You will then need to send your completed form(s) via email to candidates.agents@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

The register will be supplied in electronic format, unless a paper copy is specifically requested.

The version of the electoral register supplied will be the one current at the time of application. You may also request updates to the electoral register and absent voter list which are published in the lead-up to the poll, including the list of newly registered electors when it is published five working days before the poll.

Any person found breaching the restrictions on use of the electoral register could face an unlimited fine. For more information see the Electoral Commission's guidance on restrictions on the use of the electoral register in England and Wales.

'How to complete a nomination pack' for candidates

The Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) have prepared a free training course to help candidates complete their nomination papers.

Users can either set up an account and login to track their progress and access the course from any device or skip step and start anonymously to access the course without progress saved.

Informal checks

During the nomination period, candidates and agents are invited to send their nomination via email beforehand to candidates.agents@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk, for informal checking. Any errors or missing sections can therefore be advised upon and revised before formal arrival.

Note: For party candidates, the party description must match the description authorised by the party nominating officer.

Formal checks

By law, nomination papers must be handed in physically to electoral services, by the candidate, agent, or representative. Our office is located at Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2BX.

To avoid waiting times, we ask that candidates and agents make an appointment to hand in their nomination papers. Appointments can be arranged by our dedicated email address: candidates.agents@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

Nomination packs

Kindly note a certificate of authorisation must be submitted along with each party candidate nomination pack

Suffolk County Council By-Election

Bosmere Division By-election nomination papers

Hadleigh Town Council By-Election

Hadleigh South By-election nomination papers

Stanstead Parish Council By-Election

Stanstead By-election nomination papers

Generic Parish or Town nomination papers

This nomination pack has been created with fillable fields to assist candidates and agents. You can type your details directly into the form on your computer before printing, helping to improve legibility and reduce common errors.

Please note that nomination papers must still be printed and signed before submission. Original signed documents must be delivered to the Returning Officer by the statutory deadline.

Parish or Town nomination papers

Candidate withdrawal form

Should a candidate wish to withdraw from an election once validly nominated, they must complete and return the withdrawal from. Withdrawals must be handed in-person to the Returning Officer by 4pm 19 working days before poll.

Withdrawal form

Sessions confirmed:

Elections on November 12 2026

*Designates a test opening session.

The (Acting/Local/Deputy) Returning Officer will give a minimum of 48 hours' notice of any additional opening sessions. Candidates are entitled to appoint one agent to attend the proceedings. The name and address of the appointed agent must be given in writing to the (Acting/Local/Deputy) Returning Officer before the session begins.

Note: Sessions may be cancelled or shortened without prior notice depending on the number of postal votes received. Please call 0300 123 4000 (Option 7), or email candidates.agents@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk, to confirm whether a session will be running.

Resources

Please refer to the Electoral Commission site for resources and good practice. We recommend declarations to be accompanied by the XLS candidates spending returns.

When do the candidate spending laws apply?

We call the time when the spending laws apply the ‘regulated period’.

The regulated period

The regulated period begins on the day after the date you officially become a candidate and ends at close of poll, on the day of poll for that election.

When does a person officially become a candidate?

The earliest date you can officially become a candidate is the last date for publication of the notice of election, 25 working days before the date of poll.
You will become a candidate on this date if you or others have already announced your intention to stand. For example, your party may have issued a press release when you were selected, or you might have mentioned your intention at a residents’ meeting.
If your intention to stand has not been announced before the publication of the notice of election, you will officially become a candidate on the earlier of:

• the date your intention to stand is announced
• the date when you submit your nomination papers

This must be prior to the close of nominations, which is 4pm 19 working days before the date of poll.

Spending Limits

The spending limit for the regulated period is £960, plus 8p per local government elector in the ward/parish registered to vote on the last day for publication of the notice of election in the ward/parish which you are standing for.

Further information may be found on the electoral commission website.

Click here to download the Babergh polling districts csv file

Click here to download the Mid Suffolk districts csv file

Suffolk County division maps

• Bosmere