Voters living in communities South of Penrith will be heading to the polls for a by-election on the 27th February to elect a new councillor for the Eamont and Shap ward.
The by election has been called following the resignation of former Councillor Hughes who announced his retirement from local government due to health issues and plans to move to his second home in the South of France later this year it was announced recently at a Westmorland and Furness Council meeting when councillors whished him well for the future.
Voters in Eamont and Shap ward will be able to go to the polls on 27th February 2025 between the hours of 7am and 10pm as well as vote via postal vote.
The official notice of election will be published on Thursday 23rd of January 2025 and will include instructions about handing in nomination papers for prospective candidates intending to stand in the election.
But voters in one community will likely have to travel to a neighbouring village to cast a vote in the by election as Westmorland and Furness Council will approve on Thursday a polling station review that will see voters in a Clifton have to travel 2.3 miles to Lowther Parish Hall in Hackthrope to vote in future elections instead of the village School or Church that have both been used in recent elections by voters in Clifton including the 2023 General Election.
Eligible residents in the Eamont and Shap ward who are not registered to vote must do so by midnight on Tuesday 11 February 2025.
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 12 February 2025.
Apply for a postal vote at GOV.UK
Voters who wish to vote by proxy must apply to do so by 5pm on Wednesday 19 February 2025.
Apply for a proxy vote at GOV.UK
Any voter that does not have photo ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, and they must do so by 5pm on Wednesday 19 February 2025.
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at GOV.UK
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 now 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.
In the UK voters are now legally required to show photo identification (ID) when voting at a polling station at this election.
Examples of photo ID
You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You 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
• Defence identity 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.
If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID
If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.