Election information

2022 local elections

Local elections will take place in Derby on Thursday 5 May. There are 17 wards in Derby, each represented by three councillors. One councillor will be elected for each ward.

Key dates

A full list of dates is available in the timetable section.

Polling station changes

There are two changes to polling stations since the last elections. To find a polling district or polling station, please view our online mapping page, visit Where Do I Vote's website, or check our list of polling stations.

Timetable

Election notices

Notices of election are available to download:

• Declaration of Result of Poll 5 May 2022
• Notice of Election - Election of City Councillors
• Statement of Persons Nominated
• Notice of Election Agents Names and Offices
• Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations

Register to vote

However you choose to vote, you must be registered. The quickest and easiest way to register to vote is online.

You will need your National Insurance number when you register. The deadline to register for the 2022 elections is Thursday 14 April.

Your vote is yours alone

Your vote belongs to you. Whether you vote at a polling station, by post, or by using a proxy, it’s your decision. It’s illegal for anyone to influence you to vote against your will.

Voting at polling stations

When visiting the polling station, we ask that you:

• wear a face covering if you can
• bring your own pen or pencil
• follow signs and guidance from staff at the station.

We have published more guidance on the Voting safely at the elections page.

If you have a question or comment about elections and voting, please complete our elections and voting form.

Postal and proxy voting

Postal voting

If you’re thinking about voting by post, you need to apply separately by downloading a postal vote application form from the Electoral Commission website.

You can apply any time after you have registered to vote. Applying earlier helps us process your application in good time and send your postal vote to you sooner.

Once you've downloaded, printed and completed the form you can send it to postalvoting@derby.gov.uk or post it to us at Electoral Services, The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS.

If you don’t have access to a printer, let us know and we will send you a form in the post. We can’t accept forms with missing, typed or digitised signatures.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote for the 2022 local elections is 5pm on Tuesday 19 April. This is also the deadline to cancel or amend your existing postal vote.

Completed postal votes must reach us no later than 10pm on polling day, Thursday 5 May.

Certain Royal Mail postboxes in the city are designated as priority postboxes. These have late collection times with 98% of them having a collection time of after 4pm. Visit the Royal Mail website to see if there is one near you.

When will I receive my postal vote?

Any postal votes will be sent by first class post.

Proxy voting

Proxy voting means that if you can’t cast your vote in person, you can have someone you trust cast your vote for you.

The person you wish to appoint as your proxy can only act as proxy if both of the following apply:

• they are 18 or over
• they are (or will be) registered for that election or referendum.

A person cannot be a proxy for more than two people at any one election unless they are a close relative.

To request a proxy vote application form, please email proxyvoting@derby.gov.uk.

The deadline for cancellation or amendment of an existing proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 19 April.

The deadline for applications for a new proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 26 April.

Candidates and agents

How can I stand as a candidate at the local elections?

The Electoral Commission publishes guidance for candidates and prospective candidates.

Briefings for prospective candidates and agents will take place at:

• 5.30pm on Tuesday 15 March
• 5.30pm on Tuesday 19 April.

Candidate briefings will be take place through Microsoft Teams. To request an invite, please email nominations@derby.gov.uk.

If you would like copies of the slides presented at these briefings please contact elections@derby.gov.uk

Nominations

The Notice of Election will be published on Friday 25 March.

Nominations may be submitted from Monday 28 March, until 4pm on Tuesday 5 April. We can accept nominations between 10am and 4pm weekdays.

Nomination papers are available on the Electoral Commission's website, or can be requested by emailing nominations@derby.gov.uk.

Candidates are encouraged to have their nomination papers informally checked before they are formally submitted. We are offering informal checks by email. If you would like your papers to be checked informally, please email a scanned copy to nominations@derby.gov.uk. Informal checks will not be conducted before the nomination period begins.

We will conduct informal checks in the order we receive them. Please submit your nomination papers as soon as possible after 10am on Tuesday 29 March to ensure we have enough time to check them.

Once we have carried out an informal check, please make an appointment to formally submit your nomination papers. Appointments can be made by emailing nominations@derby.gov.uk.

When formally submitted, nomination papers must be delivered by hand and cannot be sent by post, email, or other electronic means.

Election expenses

Election expenses are the expenses that are incurred by those standing for election in the running of their campaign. There are limits on spending for each election that all candidates must adhere to.

The Proper Officer in each authority with responsibility for elections is required to retain a copy of each election spending return and declaration, and any accompanying documents, for a period of two years beginning with the date when the return is received. During that period, they must make copies available on request for public inspection without charge. There are charges of 20p per side applicable for copies of expense information provided.

Requesting electoral registers

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

Please send a completed Register request form or Absent voters list request form to elections@derby.gov.uk.

The Electoral Commission publishes guidance on the use of information from the register or absent votes list.

Where do I get more information?

Guidance for candidates and agents is available from the Electoral Commission or for specific requests contact us at elections@derby.gov.uk.