Nominations for Bristol's Mayor and Avon and Somerset's Police and Crime Commissioner open

Anyone thinking of standing for election as Bristol’s first-ever Mayor or as Avon and Somerset’s first-ever Police and Crime Commissioner can now be officially nominated.

As of Monday, October 8, Bristol City Council’s electoral services will publish notice of the November 15, 2012 elections and nominations will be formally ‘open’.

Prospective mayoral candidates need a £500 deposit with 30 nominating signatures of people on the Bristol Electoral Register. Candidates must live, work or occupy land as owner or tenant in Bristol. Additional costs include a £750 contribution towards having a personal election statement in the candidates' booklet, though inclusion in the booklet is optional.

Prospective police and crime commissioner candidates will need a deposit of £5,000 and the signatures of 100 registered voters from the police area supporting the nomination. There are rules which bar candidates from standing, including: if they have previously been convicted of an imprisonable offence; they are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or they are a police officer or are directly or indirectly employed by the police.

For both elections, the deposit is non-returnable if candidates do not poll five per cent of the vote.

“The excitement of the elections for Bristol’s first-ever mayor and the region’s police and crime commissioner is starting to build up,” says Stephen McNamara, returning officer for the November elections. “Elections underpin our democratic process and it’s important that anyone thinking of standing as a candidate is aware of the process, the rules and regulations and the key dates.

“I know there has been huge interest in Bristol’s November elections and I look forward to meeting the nominated candidates.”

· Would-be candidates have from October 8 until October 19 to be nominated, with the publication of the statement of persons nominated taking place at 12.30pm on Wednesday, October 24.

Key dates for nominated candidates
October 8
Publication of notice of Police and Crime Commissioner election and Mayoral election
October 19
12noon - Last date for delivery of nomination papers
October 23
12noon - Publication of statement as to persons nominated
October 24
12noon - Last date for withdrawal of candidature & last day for appointment of election agents. Full list of candidates officially announced at 12.30pm in the Council Chamber