Current elections in the Cumberland area
Cumberland Council - casual vacancy
A casual vacancy occurs when an elected member ceases to be an elected member as a result of, for example, their death, resignation, becoming disqualified or being no longer qualified to remain elected.
The local authority is required to publish a public notice whenever there is a casual vacancy. The notice will state the area in which the vacancy has arisen along with any other appropriate information, such as the number of electors required to call a by-election, if relevant.
Current vacancies
Notice is hereby given, under Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, that a casual vacancy exists in the Office of Councillor for the Harraby North Ward of Cumberland Council.
A casual vacancy is filled by means of a by-election to elect a new member to fill the vacant seat on the council.
Requesting a by-election: A by-election is only triggered by local government electors from the Cumberland Council area who request a by-election to take place.
The request should be made by two local government electors within the Cumberland Council area, giving notice in writing (including their name and address at which they are registered on the Electoral Register) to the proper officer of the council at the address below.
On receipt of the requests to fill the casual vacancy, the Returning Officer will set a date for the election to be held within 35 working days of the date of the request.
Parish and town council elections
Notices of election for parish council election were issued in March 2024. There was also a Notice of Election for a parish by-election for Silloth-on-Solway Town Council.
Parishes with scheduled elections were:
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Brampton Parish Council
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Carlatton Parish Council
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Castle Carrock Parish Council
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Cumrew Parish Council
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Cumwhitton Parish Council
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Hayton Parish Council
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Wetheral Parish Council
Notice of election (PDF, 119KB) has been published.
These polls were uncontested and so all the candidates were elected unopposed.
Number of seats up for election on each council
Parish | Number of Parish Councillors to be elected |
---|---|
Brampton | 15 |
Carlatton | 2 |
Cumrew | 4 |
Castle Carrock | 7 |
Cumwhitton | 8 |
Hayton - Corby Hill Ward | 5 |
Hayton - Hayton Ward | 4 |
Hayton - Heads Nook Ward | 2 |
Hayton - Talkin Ward | 1 |
Silloth - on - Solway | 1 |
Wetheral - Aglionby Ward | 3 |
Wetheral - Cumwhinton Ward | 3 |
Wetheral - Durranhill Ward | 1 |
Wetheral - Great Corby Ward | 3 |
Wetheral - Scotby Ward | 2 |
Wetheral - Wetheral Ward | 3 |
Who stood for election?
The following documents show the names of those who stood for election:
Brampton Parish Council
Carlatton Parish Council
Castle Carrock Parish Council
Cumrew Parish Council
Cumwhitton Parish Council
Hayton Parish Council
Silloth-on-Solway Town Council
Wetheral Parish Council
Registering to vote
If you are not on the electoral register already, you will have to register to vote. It is particularly important you make sure you are registered if you have:
- recently moved house within the area, or moved to the Cumberland area
- recently turned 18
Postal and proxy voting
Apply for a postal or proxy vote
If you have a postal vote:
- please leave plenty of time for posting it back to us in the envelope provided
- we recommend you post your vote rather than hand deliver it to our offices
- please do not use the letter boxes at our offices to post your postal vote, as your vote will not count
The rules on postal voting have changed and we have to keep a record of every postal vote that is handed to a member of staff at one of our offices.
If you have an existing postal vote, or as a registered elector, you apply for a postal vote for the elections on 2 May, these new rules will apply.
Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the Local 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 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.
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 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.
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 elections@cumberland.gov.uk.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for use at a particular election is 5pm, six working days before the date of that election.
For more information, including the full list of accepted forms of photo ID, visit the Electoral Commission website or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.