Standing for election in Argyll and Bute
Communities across Scotland elect councillors to represent their local areas for five-year terms in the Scottish Local Government Elections. The last council elections took place in May 2022. Councils may hold by-elections if required to do so (for example if a sitting councillor decides to step down or passes away).
If you are passionate about your local community and its future success, then standing for election as a councillor is well worth considering. Becoming a councillor is challenging but highly rewarding, offering opportunities to represent and support the people who live in your local area, to make decisions about issues of local and national significance, to contribute to shaping policy and services and much more.
We have developed a guide to standing for election in Argyll and Bute. You can download it below. This web page will be updated regularly to provide links to a variety of resources which are available to anyone who is thinking about standing for election and who has questions.
Becoming a Councillor - your guide to standing for election in Argyll and Bute
You can also contact our Elections team by email at elections@argyll-bute.gov.uk or by phone on 01546 603264 - they will be able to send you information about how to get started and the process involved in standing for election.
This web page will be updated regularly to provide links to a variety of resources which are available to help anyone who is considering setting out on the journey to represent their community as a local councillor in Argyll and Bute.
Other resources to help if you are thinking of standing for election
There are various online resources available to people who are considering standing for election. We have included links to a number of pages below, and will update this page regularly with any more resources that become available. Please note these resources relate only to the process and are not connected to any political party.
The Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections in the UK and regulates political finance. It seeks to promote confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity.
It has produced a number of guidance notes to help candidates and their agents on a wide range of issues, including:
- Eligibility to stand for election
- Standing as an independent candidate
- Standing as a political party candidate
- Spending and donations
- Campaigning
- Your right to attend key events
- After the declaration of results
- Election timetables
- Forms that you or your agent may need
You can find more at Council elections in Scotland | Electoral Commission
They have also provided a letter for prospective candidates which sets out some of the main issues to consider.
Improvement Service
The Improvement Service was set up in 2005 to support Scottish councils in their aims to provide effective community leadership, strong local governance, and delivery of high quality local services. It offers regular training and workshop sessions and a series of online induction notebooks for newly elected councillors, which may also be helpful for people considering standing for election. Find out more at Support for Elected Members | Improvement Service
COSLA (The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
COSLA describes its role as being ‘the voice of local government in Scotland’. All 32 Scottish local authorities are able to join COSLA and be represented on its various boards which consider the strategic issues that all councils deal with. COSLA represents Scotland’s councils at a national level, acting as a champion for council services and liaising with both the Scottish and UK Governments. Their website provides some helpful background about Scottish local government’s current challenges and opportunities. Visit the website at COSLA | COSLA
Elect-Her: supporting women to stand for election
Elect-Her is a non-partisan organisation offering practical help, training and support for women who want to stand for election at all levels of government. Find a range of resources and information at Elect Her (elect-her.org.uk)
Access to Elected Office Fund
This fund is now open for applications from people with disabilities who are candidates in the Scottish Local Government Elections. The link for information about the fund is below, at the Inclusion Scotland website, which also provides a wide range of other resources -