The Prime Minister announced on 22 May 2024, that there would be a General Election held on 4 July.
To see who is eligible to vote in these elections, go to the government website.
Which constituency do you live in?
We shall be managing the elections for three constituencies: Carlisle, Penrith and Solway, and Whitehaven and Workington.
You can check which constituency you are living in by going to the Electoral Commission's website. You can also check the boundary for each constituency on the Parliament website. This is the map for Carlisle, Penrith and Solway, and Whitehaven and Workington.
There are parts of the Westmorland and Furness Council area which comes under the Penrith and Solway Constituency. There are also some parts of the Cumberland Council area which come under the Barrow and Furness Constituency. The Barrow and Furness Constituency election is being managed by Westmorland and Furness Council. You can check the boundary for this constituency on the Parliament website.
If you live within the Cumberland Council area, but your home is within the Barrow and Furness Constituency there is more information about that election on the Westmorland and Furness website.
Who is standing for election?
Carlisle constituency
| Candidate name | Description of Candidate (if any) | Address of Candidate* |
|---|---|---|
| HAWKTON, Gavin | Green Party | (address in Cumberland) |
| HAYTON, Rachel | Social Democratic Party | (address in the Carlisle Constituency) |
| LYNESTRIDER, Thomas Alexander Ben | Independent | 23 Hawick Street, Carlisle, CA2 5UW |
| MINNS, Julie | Labour Party | 19 Collingwood Street, Carlisle, CA2 5XS |
| REED, Sean Clifford | Independent | (address in the Carlisle Constituency) |
| STEVENSON, John | The Conservative Party Candidate | Woodvilla, Great Corby, Carlisle, CA4 8LL |
| WARD, Stephen Patrick | Reform UK | (address in Cumberland) |
| WERNHAM, Brian Kevin | Liberal Democrats | 9 Thornton Road, Stanwix, Carlisle, CA3 9HZ |
*If a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, the constituency or relevant area in which their home address is situated.
Penrith and Solway constituency
| Candidate name | Description of Candidate (if any) | Address of Candidate* |
|---|---|---|
| AGLIONBY, Julia Catherine Weir | Liberal Democrats | Wallacefield, Armathwaite, Carlisle, CA4 9SR |
| CAMPBELL - SAVOURS, Markus Dale | Labour Party | 19 Springs Road, Keswick, CA12 4AQ |
| DENHAM - SMITH, Susan Jane | The Green Party | (address in the Whitehaven and Workington Constituency) |
| IVINSON, Roy | Whinclose, Seaville, Silloth, Carlisle, CA7 4PT | |
| JENKINSON, Mark Ian | The Conservative Party Candidate | 12 Rose Beck, Seaton, CA14 1QF |
| JOHNSTON, Chris | Independent | (address in the Penrith and Solway Constituency) |
| LONG, Shaun Keith | Social Democratic Party | (address in the Penrith and Solway Constituency) |
| MOODY, Matthew James | Reform UK | (address in the Penrith and Solway Constituency) |
*If a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, the constituency or relevant area in which their home address is situated.
Whitehaven and Workington constituency
| Candidate name | Description of Candidate (if any) | Address of Candidate* |
|---|---|---|
| JOHNSON, Andrew | The Conservative Party Candidate | Mount Carmel, Swallow Hill, Distington, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 4PR |
| MACALISTER, Josh | Labour Party | (address in the Whitehaven and Workington Constituency) |
| PERRY, Jill | The Green Party | Main Band House, Bullgill, Maryport, CA15 6TW |
| SURTEES, David | Reform UK | 40 Kelsick Park, Seaton, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 1PY |
| WILLS, Chris | Liberal Democrats | (address in Cumberland) |
*If a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, the constituency or relevant area in which their home address is situated.
Barrow and Furness constituency
Those Cumberland area residents who are electors in the Barrow and Furness constituency, you can see who is standing in this election on the Westmorland and Furness Council website.
Key information for voters
Below is information for voters on postal and proxy votes, and voter ID.
There is lots of information in other formats too. These include explainer videos including in British Sign Language, information in braille and different languages, and information in other formats. These include:
This video from the Electoral Commission explains the different ways people can vote.
Postal and proxy voting
In this election, the deadline for new applications to vote by post, and amendments or cancellations of existing postal votes or proxy vote arrangements was 5pm on 19 June. The deadline for new applications to vote by proxy was 5pm on 26 June. The deadline for emergency proxy votes is 5pm on the day of the election, 4 July 2024.
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
Reissuing of postal votes
Your postal vote pack can be reissued if you have spoiled any part of your pack, if you have lost your postal voting pack, or if you never received your postal voting pack.
Postal vote reissues will be managed by the Acting Returning Officer for your constituency. We can take queries on reissues for Carlisle, Penrith and Solway and Whitehaven and Workington constituencies. Contact Westmorland and Furness council for reissuing of postal vote packs for the Barrow and Furness constituency. Contact details are at the bottom of this page.
If you have spoiled your postal vote pack it is important than you contact the Acting Returning Officer straight away. We can advise whether you definitely need a reissue, and how you go about getting one. Packs that have been spoiled must be sent back to us in full before we can reissue them.
Postal vote packs that have been lost, stolen or not received can only be reissued from Friday 28 June. If your postal vote pack does not turn up before that date please contact the Acting Returning Officer and we can arrange a reissue.
You can hand a postal vote in to a polling station on the day of the election, but make sure you complete a postal vote return form. More details on this is below.
New rules for postal votes
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 or a polling station.
These new rules will apply for this election.
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. You can hand a postal vote into either the Civic Centre in Carlisle, Allerdale House in Workington, Market Hall in Whitehaven, or Voreda House in Penrith. Please note that Voreda House is a Westmorland and Furness Council office.
Postal votes should not be put through the letter boxes or internal mail boxes in the buildings as these will have to be rejected.
Proxy voting
You can apply for someone to vote at a polling station on your behalf. This is known as proxy voting.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote has passed for the General Election, however, you can still apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on the 4 July. Find out more on our website.
Voter ID
In the UK you are legally required to show photo identification (ID) when voting at a polling station at this election.
The deadline for applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election was 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024.
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, however, the deadline for the General Election has passed.
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.
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.
Watch a short video from the Electoral Commission on: what forms of ID are acceptable, how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, and checking your Voter ID at a polling station.
Registering to vote
The deadline to register to vote in this election was midnight on 18 June 2024.
If you are not on the electoral register already, you will have to register to vote in upcoming elections. 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
Watch the Electoral Commission's short video on registering to vote.
Key deadlines for voters
Penrith and Solway, and Whitehaven and Workington constituencies
Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 12 midnight on Tuesday, 18 June 2024. Applications can be made online.
New applications to vote by post, and amendments or cancellations of existing postal votes or proxy vote arrangements must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Allerdale House, New Bridge Road, Workington, CA14 3YJ by 5 pm on Wednesday, 19 June 2024. Applications can be made online.
Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday, 26 June 2024. Applications can be made online.
New applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Allerdale House, New Bridge Road, Workington, CA14 3YJ by 5pm Wednesday, 26 June 2024. Some applications can be made online.
Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Allerdale House, New Bridge Road, Workington, CA14 3YJ by 5pm on Thursday, 4 July 2024.
Those residents who live in the Penrith and Solway Constituency, and are in the Westmorland and Furness Council area should contact Westmorland and Furness Council with any queries on registration, postal and proxy votes and voter ID. More information can be found on the Westmorland and Furness website.
Carlisle constituency
Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 12 midnight on Tuesday, 18 June 2024. Applications can be made online .
New applications to vote by post, and amendments or cancellations of existing postal votes or proxy vote arrangements must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Civic Centre, Rickergate, Carlisle, CA3 8QG by 5 pm on Wednesday, 19 June 2024. Applications can be made online.
Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday, 26 June 2024. Applications can be made online.
New applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Civic Centre, Rickergate, Carlisle, CA3 8GQ by 5pm Wednesday, 26 June 2024. Some applications can be made online.
Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Civic Centre, Rickergate, Carlisle, CA3 8QG by 5pm on Thursday, 4 July 2024.
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.
Notices of Election
The Notices of Election for the three Parliamentary seats - Carlisle; Penrith and Solway; and Whitehaven and Workington were published on 3 June 2024.
If these elections are contested the polls will take place on Thursday, 4 July 2024.
Harraby North ward election
If you are looking for information on the Harraby North ward election for Cumberland Council, you can find this on our website.