The Returning Officer has received valid requests to fill a vacancy on Barrow Town Council by holding an election.
Voters in the Ormsgill ward of Barrow Town Council will go to the polls between the hours of 7am and 10pm on Thursday 27 August 2026.
Standing as a candidate
Potential candidates should contact us by emailing elections1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
The Electoral Commission has published information about standing for election as a local councillor.
A Notice of Election will be published for both elections no later than Thursday 23 July. This will include instructions on where to deliver nomination papers.
Potential candidates can download nomination packs from the Electoral Commission. Printed packs will be available upon request from Barrow Town Hall.
A list of candidates will be published no later than Monday 3 August.
Register to vote
Eligible residents in the Ormsgill ward who are not registered to vote must do so by midnight on Tuesday 11 August 2026.
Apply for a postal or proxy 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 12 August 2026.
Apply for a postal vote at GOV.UK
Voters who wish to vote by proxy must apply to do so by 5pm on Wednesday 19 August 2026.
Apply for a proxy vote at GOV.UK
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate
Any voter that does not have photo ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, and they must do so by 5pm on Wednesday 19 August 2026.
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at GOV.UK
Postal vote handling
Rules have been introduced to support the security of postal voting at elections.
Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the 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, wherever possible.
Electors who wish to hand their postal vote in at a polling station, or at designated council offices, must complete a postal vote return form for the postal vote to be accepted.
Polling stations
Staff working at the station will have the necessary form to be completed at the polling stations.
Council offices
Signage will be in place at each office to tell electors where they need to go to complete the relevant forms.
Completed postal vote packs should not be put through the letterboxes, or internal mail boxes, in any council building 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 on GOV.UK
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 elections1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.