Penrith South By-election

Information about the by-election for the Penrith South ward of Westmorland and Furness Council on 12 March 2026. This includes how to apply for a postal or proxy vote, and the ID you'll need to bring to vote at a polling station.

A by-election for the Penrith South ward of Westmorland and Furness Council is taking place on Thursday 12 March, 2026, between the hours of 7am and 10pm.

The nomination deadline has passed and the list of candidates has been published.

Notices

Poll cards have been sent to registered electors in the Penrith South area. 

Register to vote

Eligible residents in Penrith South who are not registered to vote must do so by midnight on Tuesday 24 February. 

Register to vote at GOV.UK.

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 25 February.

Apply for a postal vote at GOV.UK.

Voters who wish to vote by proxy must apply to do so by 5pm on Wednesday 4 March.

Existing proxy voters who wish to cancel or amend their proxy must do so by 5pm on Wednesday 25 February.

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 4 March.

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 Voreda House, 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 Voreda House, Penrith 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're 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, including eVisas
  • Defence identity card
  • HM Armed Forces Veteran 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 do not have an accepted form of photo ID

If you do not 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 elections2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.