Mayor of Croydon and Croydon Council elections - Thursday 7 May 2026

Contents

The candidates standing for election

Candidates have until 4pm, Thursday 9 April to submit their nomination forms. A Statement of Persons nominated (a list of candidates) will be published here by Friday 10 April.

Candidate information

At all elections it is the responsibility of the individual candidates and political parties to let voters know who they are and what their policies are.

For the election of the Mayor, however, the Returning Officer is required by law to produce and send to all registered electors a booklet about the election. Candidates can choose to have an address or statement from them included in the booklet.

Hard copies of these booklets will be posted to voters at the end of April and an electronic copy will be available on this page.

Candidate requirements

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

  • be at least 18 years old
  • be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union

You must also meet at least one of the following four qualifications:

  1. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government voter 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.

Guidance and information for candidates and agents

Detailed information for candidates and their agents can be found on the Electoral Commission website:

The Returning Officer will also produce written guidance for candidates and agents regarding the specific arrangements in Croydon.

In advance of the election, the Returning Officer will also be holding candidate and agent briefings which all prospective candidates and agents are welcome to attend. 

If you are considering standing as a candidate and you:

  • require further information
  • need to get nomination forms
  • would like to attend a briefing session

Please contact Seth Alker, Deputy Returning Officer at seth.alker@croydon.gov.uk or by phone on 0208 604 7469.

Candidate nominations

People wanting to stand for election, as Mayor or as a councillor, must submit nomination papers to the Returning Officer between 10am, Monday 30 March and 4pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 to:

Electoral Services
Bernard Weatherill House
8 Mint Walk
Croydon
CR0 1EA

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Electoral Commission website or are available on request from the Returning Officer.

The nomination for a Mayoral candidate must be subscribed (signed) by 30 eligible voters in the borough.

The nomination for a candidate to the Council must be subscribed by two eligible voters from the ward they are standing in.

Candidates standing for Mayor must submit a deposit of £500 by no later than 4pm, Thursday 9 April. Candidates who poll more than 5% of votes cast will have their deposit returned. If a candidate wishes to include an address or statement in the Mayoral address booklet they are also required to pay a contribution of £500.

There is no deposit for candidates for the council elections.

If you have any queries regarding standing as a candidate, to register your interest in attending a briefing session or to obtain relevant nomination forms please contact Seth Alker, Deputy Returning Officer at seth.alker@croydon.gov.uk or telephone 0208 604 7469.

The role of a councillor

The Local Government Association (LGA) has detailed information on becoming a councillor. The information is also relevant to potential mayoral candidates, including:

  • information on what councils do, and what councillors do
  • the skills that elected members of the council need
  • case studies
  • LGA support, information and training
  • resources on campaigning, improving access to elected office for people with disabilities, and handling intimidation

The role of the Mayor

Find out more about the role and responsibilities of the Mayor.

Information about Croydon

The Croydon Observatory provides access to data and information about the borough.

It is an information sharing, mapping and reporting resource for use by:

  • local government
  • community and voluntary sector organisations
  • partnership members
  • businesses, students
  • the public

Themes include:

  • population
  • economy and employment
  • housing
  • children and young people
  • health and social care
  • deprivation
  • crime and community safety
  • the environment