Four candidates have put themselves forward for a vacant seat on Westmorland & Furness Council.
The by-election for the Penrith South ward will take place on Thursday, March 12.
Polls will be open between 7am and 10pm.
The candidates are:
- Emilia Louise Hoffmann – The Green Party
- Michael John Houston – ReformUK
- Barbara Jayson – Liberal Democrat
- Maiki Tolmie – The Conservative and Unionist Party
Eligible residents in Penrith South who are not registered to vote must do so by midnight on Tuesday February 24. People can register here
Voters who wish to vote by post, or want to cancel or amend their postal vote, must apply to do so by 5pm on Wednesday February 25. For more information, visit the GOV.UK site here.
Voters who wish to vote by proxy must apply to do so by 5pm on Wednesday March 4.
Existing proxy voters who wish to cancel or amend their proxy must do so by 5pm on Wednesday February 25.Apply for a proxy vote at GOV.UK.
Voter ID
In the UK you’re legally required to show photo identification when voting at a polling station at this election.
People can use any of the following:
- passport
- driving licence (including provisional license)
- Blue Badge
- certain concessionary travel cards
- identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- Biometric immigration document, including eVisas
- Defence identity card
- HM Armed Forces Veteran Card
- certain national identity cards
You will only need to show one form of photo ID, but it needs to be the original version and not a photocopy. The name on your ID must be the same name you used to register to vote.
Any voter that does not have photo ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, and they must do so by 5pm on Wednesday March 4. Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at GOV.UK
Postal vote handling
Rules have been introduced to support the security of postal voting at elections.
Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the Returning Officer must complete a postal vote return form. A postal vote returned by hand that is not accompanied by a postal vote return form will be rejected. There are also new limits on the number of postal votes that can be handed in by one person.
Postal voters are encouraged to use the Royal Mail envelope provided with the postal vote pack, wherever possible.
Electors who wish to hand their postal vote in at a polling station, or at Voreda House, must complete a postal vote return form for the postal vote to be accepted.
- Polling stations: staff working at the station will have the necessary form to be completed at the polling stations.
- Council offices: signs will be in place at Voreda House, Penrith to tell electors where they need to go to complete the relevant forms.
Completed postal vote packs should not be put through the letterboxes, or internal mail boxes, in any council building as these will have to be rejected.
