There are certain qualifications you need to meet to be able to stand for election.

Local government elections

To be able to stand as a candidate at a local government election in Wales you must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of any member state of the European Union or a qualifying foreign citizen, and 
  • meet at least one of the following four qualifications: 
  1. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards. 
  2. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election. 
  3. Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the local authority area.
  4. You have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election. 

Community council elections

To be able to stand as a candidate at a community council election you must:

  • be at least 18 years old 
  • be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen a citizen of any member state of the European Union or a qualifying foreign citizen, and 
  • meet at least one of the following four qualifications: 
  1. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the community in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards. 
  2. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the community area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election. 
  3. Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the community area. 
  4. You have lived in the community area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

If you are interested in becoming a local councillor you might want to consider standing as a candidate in a community or town council first, to gain valuable experience.