Canwick Parish Council has seven members who serve for a period of four years. Until 1979 the council was elected every three years. Elections are normally held at the Village Hall.
Over recent years there have been changes in the representation of the North Kesteven District Council and Lincolnshire County Council wards in this area. In May 1999 the District Council merged the Wards of Washingborough and Canwick with Heighington to be represented by three elected District Cllrs. Until May 2017 the County Council division was for a single County Cllr to serve Washingborough, Heighington and Canwick. In 2016 the Boundary Commission published a further reorganisation which would merge Washingborough and Canwick with Bracebridge Heath to form a new division, called Washingborough, again with a single County Cllr, from the May 2017 elections. Heighington then formed part of a different division.
Any registered elector of the village can be nominated to stand as a Parish or District Councillor. A nominee for the Parish Council must:
- be over 18 years of age (18 is the voting age);
- be a British subject;
- have lived in the village, or within 3 miles of it, for at least 12 months prior to election;
- have worked, occupied as owner or tenant any land or business premises within the village for least 12 months prior to election;.
- NOT be registered bankrupt or have been imprisoned for over 3 months within 5 years prior to an election or have been disqualified for corrupt or illegal practices.
The elected members must meet within 14 days of an election, sign Declaration of Office forms and elect a Chairman. A Vice Chairman may also be elected. The Parish Council meets monthly, usually on the 3rd Monday unless it falls on a Bank Holiday.