Voters in the Hawcoat and Newbarns ward of Westmorland and Furness Council, and voters in the Hawcoat ward of Barrow Town Council will go to the polls between the hours of 7am and 10pm on Thursday 4 June 2026.
The nomination period has ended and the Returning Officer has published a Statement of Persons Nominated for each election.
Notices
Notices of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations
Notice of Election Agents
Statements of Persons Nominated
Statement of Persons Nominated for Hawcoat Ward of Barrow Town Council (PDF , 92KB)
Notices of Election
Notice of Election for the Hawcoat ward of Barrow Town Council (PDF , 132KB)
Register to vote
The deadline to register to vote for these by-elections passed at midnight on Monday 18 May 2026.
Apply for a postal or proxy vote
The deadlines to apply to vote by post and by proxy for these by-elections passed at 5pm on Tuesday 19 May 2026 and Wednesday 27 May 2026 respectively.
If you can't vote in person because of an emergency you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy.
This must be something that you weren't aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline of 5pm on Wednesday 27 May 2026 and it applies in cases of:
- medical emergency
- being called away for work
- photo ID being lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged
Emergency proxy applications can be made up to 5pm on Thursday 4 June 2026.
To apply you can download and print the relevant application from from the Electoral Commission:
The Electoral Commission, emergency proxy vote
Alternatively you can contact the Westmorland and Furness electoral office on:
Telephone: 0300 373 3300
Email: elections1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for these by-elections passed at 5pm on Wednesday 27 May 2026. For more info on what photo ID is acceptable see the Voter ID section below.
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.
At 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 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.