Information for the General Election on Thursday 4 July 2024

Your Vote matters don't lose it

The Notice of Election for the General Election on Thursday 4 July 2024 has been published by Westmorland and Furness Council.

Westmorland and Furness Council is the responsible authority for the Parliamentary Elections of the new constituencies of Barrow and Furness, and Westmorland and Lonsdale.

However, some electors in Westmorland and Furness will vote in the election for the new Penrith and Solway Constituency, administered by Cumberland Council and the new Morecambe and Lunesdale Constituency, administered by Lancaster City Council.

If you’re unsure about which constituency you’re eligible to vote in, you can use your postcode to check on the Electoral Commission website - www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

For information on the Penrith and Solway Constituency Election, visit the Cumberland Council website at www.cumberland.gov.uk/voting-and-elections/general-election-2024

For information on the Morecambe and Lunesdale Constituency election, visit the Lancaster City Council website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/voting-and-elections

Key dates and information for General Election candidates

Anyone wishing to stand as a candidate in the General Election for the constituency of Barrow and Furness can obtain nomination papers from the office of the (Acting) Returning Officer, Westmorland and Furness Council, Barrow Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, LA14 2LD.

Completed nomination forms must be returned by 4pm on Friday 7 June 2024.

Candidates can contact the elections team by email at elections1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or by calling 0300 373 3300

Anyone wishing to stand as a candidate in the General Election for the constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale, can obtain nomination papers from the office of the (Acting) Returning Officer, Westmorland and Furness Council, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, LA9 4QD.

Completed nomination forms must be returned by 4pm on Friday 7 June 2024.

Candidates can contact the elections team by email at elections3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or by calling 0300 373 3300

Objections to nomination papers can be made between 10am and 12noon on Friday 7 June 2024.

More details on the nomination process are available at www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Candidate information for the Penrith and Solway Constituency can be found at www.cumberland.gov.uk/voting-and-elections/general-election-2024

Candidate Information for the Morecambe and Lunesdale Constituency can be found at www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/voting-and-elections

Key dates and information for electors for the General Election on 4 July 2024 

Applications to register to vote must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 12midnight on Tuesday 18 June 2024. Applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.  

Applications for new postal, postal proxy votes and changes to existing postal and postal proxy votes at this election must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June 2024. Applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.

The rules for postal voting have now changed and postal voters are encouraged to use the envelope provided with the postal vote pack and return it via Royal Mail, wherever possible. Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the (Acting) 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 new limits on the number of postal votes that can be handed in by one person. Electors who wish to hand their postal vote in at the polling stations, or designated council offices must complete a postal vote return form for the postal vote to be accepted. Postal votes should not be put through the council letterboxes or via internal council mailboxes, as these will have to be rejected. 

Anyone voting in person will have to show a form of photo ID. Anyone without an eligible form of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC). Applications for a VAC or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for these elections must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024. Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate can be made online www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate  

Applications for new proxy votes (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) at this election must by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024.  Applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Thursday 4 July 2024. 

More information on the elections for Barrow and Furness, and Westmorland and Lonsdale is available at www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

More information on the election for the Penrith and Solway Constituency can be found at www.cumberland.gov.uk/voting-and-elections/general-election-2024

More information on the election for the Morecambe and Lunesdale Constituency can be found at www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/voting-and-elections