Penrith Neighourhood Planning Referendum

Information about the Penrith Neighbourhood Planning Referendum in November 2024

A referendum is to be held for the Penrith Neighbourhood Plan.

The Information Statement and associated documents have been published and can be viewed online.

The documents are also available for inspection at the following locations during normal opening hours:

Voreda House, Portland Place, Penrith, CA11 7BF
Penrith Library, St Andrew’s Churchyard, Penrith, CA11 7YA
Kendal Town Hall, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, LA9 4DQ
Barrow Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, LA14 2LD

Voters in the Penrith Parish area will be able to go to the polls between the hours of 7am and 10pm on Thursday 28 November.

Notice of Referendum (PDF , 81KB)

Deadlines to register to vote, apply for an absent vote or apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

Eligible residents who are not registered to vote must do so by midnight on Tuesday 12 November 2024.

Register to vote

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 13 November 2024.

Apply for a postal vote

Voters who wish to vote by proxy must apply to do so by 5pm on Wednesday 20 November 2024.

Apply for a proxy 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 20 November 2024.

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

Changes to postal vote arrangements

New rules have been introduced to support the security of postal voting at elections.

If you have an existing postal vote, or as a registered elector, you apply for a postal vote for the referendum the new rules will apply.

Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the Counting 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, where ever possible.

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. 

At polling stations: Presiding Officers and Clerks will have the necessary form to be completed at the polling station

At Council Offices: signage will be in place at each office to tell electors where they need to go to complete the form necessary for them to hand their postal vote in

Postal votes should not be put through the letter boxes or internal mail boxes in the buildings as these will have to be rejected.

Voter ID

In the UK you are legally required to show photo identification (ID) when voting at a polling station at this referendum.

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. 

Apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate

If you need any help with applying for a Voter Authority Certificate or want to request an application form, contact our elections team by email at elections2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.

For more information about voter ID, including the full list of accepted forms of photo ID, please visit the Electoral Commission or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.