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Candidates and agents - city council elections

Local elections will take place in Southampton on Thursday 2 May 2024

This page is for prospective city councillors.

The last election of councillors for Southampton City Council took place on 4 May 2023 when all 51 of the current seats were up for election; three vacancies in each of the 17 wards across the authority area. This year, one councillor in each ward is up for re-election.

If you are interested in standing as a candidate or will be an election agent, the best source of information to help you through the process is published by the Electoral Commission and is a full guide, providing advice and help for each aspect that you will become involved with:

If you are interested in standing as a candidate or will be an election agent please contact electoral services. This will ensure that we can include you in any future communications. 

In the lead up to polling day candidates and agents are respectfully reminded of their obligations under the Electoral Commission Code of Conduct. As part of the communication strategy, the Returning Officer encourages all candidates and agents to sign up to and abide by the Code of Conduct. This is especially important when briefing campaign staff who may not ordinarily have read the Code themselves. Full Guidance on the dos and don'ts of campaigning can be found in part four of the Commission's Guidance.

Successful councillors will need to attend the induction programme. In order to help you plan your diary we will publish the dates as soon as the programme is complete.

Candidates and agents briefings (via Microsoft Teams)

  • 10am Wednesday 13 March 2024 - key dates, nominations, campaigning, election expenses
  • 10am Wednesday 24 April 2024 - key dates, polling day, verification/counting of the votes

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