Voters are being advised to be ready for the General Election due to be held on 4 July 2024.
The call came as the Notices of Election are published by Cumberland Council which is the responsible authority for three constituencies. These are Carlisle; Penrith and Solway; and Whitehaven and Workington. Full details of the General Election can be found on our website.
Some voters in the south of the Cumberland area will be voting in the Barrow and Furness Constituency which is being administered by Westmorland and Furness Council. However, these electors should still contact Cumberland Council with any queries including about registering to vote, postal or proxy votes and voter ID. Details of this constituency election can be found on the Westmorland and Furness Council website.
Similarly, there are parts of the Westmorland and Furness Council area that fall under the Penrith and Solway Constituency. Voters in these areas should contact Westmorland and Furness Council with any election queries.
Voters can check which constituency they fall into on the Electoral Commission website.
Key information for candidates
Candidates wishing to stand in any of the Carlisle, Penrith and Solway or Whitehaven and Workington Constituency elections are reminded they have until 4pm on 7 June to submit their application form to the Acting Returning Officer at Cumberland Council. Full details can be found on the Cumberland Council website.
Anyone wishing to stand in the Barrow and Furness Constituency should contact Westmorland and Furness Council for information on where to submit their application or check the council’s website.
Key information for voters
Voters are also reminded of some key deadlines ahead of the election.
Registering to vote
Applications to register to vote must be made by 12 midnight on Tuesday, 18 June 2024. Applications can be made online. It is particularly important that those who have recently turned 18 or moved house ensure they are registered and it is at the correct address.
Postal and proxy voting
Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must be made by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June 2024. Details on how to do this can be found on the Cumberland Council website.
Postal voters now need to provide their National Insurance number alongside their date of birth and signature when applying. Anyone without a National Insurance number should contact the elections team.
Applications to vote by proxy at this election must also be made by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024. Further information can be found online.
Voter ID
Electors must show photo ID when voting in a polling station. There are several accepted forms of photo ID which include:
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Passport issued in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
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Driving licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or EEA state
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A Blue Badge
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Older persons bus pass
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Disabled persons bus pass
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Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card).
Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID, can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC).
Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election must be made by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024. Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate can be made online.
Key contacts
Anyone wishing to contact the Cumberland Council elections team should call 0300 373 3730 or email elections@cumberland.gov.uk . Those voters wishing to contact the elections team at Westmorland and Furness Council should call 0300 373 3300.
Andrew Seekings, Cumberland Council’s Electoral Registration Officer, said: “It is really important that everyone has their say on who should represent them in Parliament over the next five years. For many young voters in Cumberland this is the first time they will have voted in a General Election, so it is important they ensure they are registered to vote. Many people will have moved recently so it is important they ensure they are registered at the right address.
“Many voters might find they are away on election day or cannot make it to a polling station on 4 July. If this is the case then a postal or proxy vote are alternatives to voting in person, but you have to apply ahead of the deadline – and you need to be registered to vote first.
“For many people this may be the first time they have had to show a form of photo ID at a polling station. So please do take the time to familiarise yourself with all the accepted forms of photo ID and apply for a Voter Authority Certificate in good time if you need to.”