Voters in two areas of Cumberland are being advised to be ready for local elections which are taking place on October 17th, 2024.
The candidates for by-elections in two Cumberland Council wards – Wetheral and Keswick – have now been published on the council’s website.
In the Keswick ward there are four candidates, who are:
- HALL, Jane Cunningham - Green Party
- KING, Graham Anthony, The Conservative Party Candidate,
- LANSBURY, Sally Anne, Labour Party
- RIVERS, John Roger – Liberal Democrats
This election was called following the resignation of Cllr Markus Campbell-Savours.
In the Wetheral ward there are three candidates, who are:
- ALCROFT, Ruth Elizabeth, Labour Party
- ELLIS, Gareth Michael, The Conservative Party Candidate
- WILLS, Sarah Joyce, Liberal Democrats
This election was called following the resignation of Cllr Geoff Mitchell.
Full details of this local election, including who is standing, can be found on the council’s website.
Voters are reminded of some key deadlines ahead of the election:
- Applications to register to vote must be made by 12 midnight on Tuesday 1 October 2024. Applications can be made online via the Government website. It is particularly important that those who have recently turned 18 or recently moved house ensure they are registered, and it is at the correct address.
- Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must be made by 5pm on Wednesday 2 October 2024. Details on how to do this can be found on the Government website.
- Voters who wish to vote by proxy must apply to do so by 5pm on Wednesday 9 October. Applications can be made online via the Government website.
Electors are also being reminded that they now have to show an accepted form of photo ID when voting in a polling station.
There are several accepted forms of photo ID which include:
- Passports issued in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
- Driving licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or EEA state
- A Blue Badge
- Older persons bus pass
- Disabled persons bus pass
- 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). You can find out more online.
Andrew Seekings, Cumberland Council’s Electoral Registration Officer, said: “I’d like to encourage all residents living in the Wetheral and Keswick wards to have their say on who they would like to represent them on the council by voting in these by-elections.
“To do so, residents need to ensure they are properly registered, have applied for a postal or proxy vote if that is how they choose to vote, and have the correct photo ID in place to vote in a polling station.”
Anyone wishing to contact the elections team at Cumberland Council should call 0300 373 3730 or email.