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Current local elections

Details of any current local elections will be detailed on this page.

Current elections in the Cumberland area

Parish Council elections are taking place in some areas, as well as a parish by-election for Silloth on Solway Town Council.

Parishes with scheduled elections are:

  • Brampton Parish Council

  • Carlatton Parish Council

  • Castle Carrock Parish Council

  • Cumrew Parish Council

  • Cumwhitton Parish Council

  • Hayton Parish Council

  • Wetheral Parish Council

Notice of election (PDF, 119KB) has been published.

If any of these elections are contested, then the polls will be held on 2 May 2024. 

Number of seats up for election on each council

Parish Number of Parish Councillors to be elected
Brampton 15
Carlatton 2
Cumrew 4
Castle Carrock 7
Cumwhitton 8
Hayton - Corby Hill Ward 5
Hayton - Hayton Ward 4
Hayton - Heads Nook Ward 2
Hayton - Talkin Ward 1
Silloth - on - Solway 1
Wetheral - Aglionby Ward 3
Wetheral - Cumwhinton Ward 3
Wetheral - Durranhill Ward 1
Wetheral - Great Corby Ward 3
Wetheral - Scotby Ward 2
Wetheral - Wetheral Ward 3

Who is standing for election?

The following documents show the names of those standing for election:

Brampton Parish Council

Carlatton Parish Council

Castle Carrock Parish Council

Cumrew Parish Council

Cumwhitton Parish Council

Hayton Parish Council

Silloth-on-Solway Town Council

Wetheral Parish Council

Key dates for these elections

Some key dates for these elections are:

  • 16 April (12 midnight) - deadline for signing up to be on the register of electors
  • 17 April (5pm) - deadline for receiving new postal vote and proxy postal applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes
  • 24 April (5pm) - deadline for receiving applications for Voter Authority Certificates
  • 24 April (5pm) - deadline for new applications to vote by proxy
  • emergency proxies: deadline 5pm 2 May

Registering to vote

If you are not on the electoral register already, you will have to register to vote. 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

How to register to vote.

Postal and proxy voting

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

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. 

If you have an existing postal vote, or as a registered elector, you apply for a postal vote for the elections on 2 May, these new rules will apply.

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.

Postal votes should not be put through the letter boxes or internal mail boxes in the buildings 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.

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.

The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for use at a particular election is 5pm, six working days before the date of that election.

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.