Nominations have closed for the by-elections in Kendal and Penrith.
Candidates and polling stations are listed on the combined Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Situation of Polling Stations below:
- Kendal Town Council - Highgate Ward: Statement of Persons Nominated (PDF , 93KB)
- Kendal Town Council - Nether Ward: Statement of Persons Nominated (PDF , 120KB)
- Penrith Town Council - East Ward: Statement of Persons Nominated (PDF , 120KB)
Voters in the Kendal Town Council wards of Highgate and Nether, and voters in the Penrith: East ward of Penrith Town Council will go to the polls between the hours of 7am and 10pm on Thursday 27 March 2025.
Notices of Election have been published:
- Kendal Town Council: Notice of Election (PDF , 122KB)
- Penrith Town Council: Notice of Election (PDF , 119KB)
Register to vote
Eligible residents who are not registered to vote must do so by midnight on Tuesday 11 March 2025.
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 March 2025.
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 March 2025.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 March 2025.
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.
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
The name on your ID must be the same name you used to register to vote.
You will only need to show one form of photo ID, but it needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.
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 elections3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.