A by-election has been called for Ormsgill Ward of Barrow Town Council.

The Notice of Election was published on Thursday, July 23, allowing candidates’ time to complete their nomination papers before the deadline of 4pm on Friday, July 31, 2026.

Assuming there is more than one candidate, a by-election will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

If you currently live in the ward and are already registered to vote, then you do not need to register your details again.

If you have moved into or changed address within the ward since responding to the voter registration form, you will need to re-register your details before the midnight on Tuesday, August 11, deadline to be eligible to vote in the by-election.

The easiest way to register to vote is online here, or Westmorland and Furness Council can send you information explaining how to do this in the post.

Anyone interested in standing, can contact the elections team by email at elections3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Nomination papers can be obtained from the offices of the Returning Officer, Barrow Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA14 2LD and must be returned, by hand, before 4pm on Friday, July 31, 2026.

Postal vote applications now require the applicant’s National Insurance number and a copy of their signature.

Registered voters who wish to vote by post for this by-election, or permanently, must apply before 5pm on Wednesday, August 12, in order to receive a postal vote for this by-election.

The quickest way to apply for vote by post is online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.

Voters can also apply to vote by proxy, where someone votes on your behalf.

Registered voters who wish to vote by proxy for this by-election can do so online here and must do so by 5pm on Wednesday, August 19.

Alternatively, paper forms can be sent to voters who wish to vote by post or proxy.

Postal voters are encouraged to use the Royal Mail envelope provided with their postal vote pack, wherever possible.

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.

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.

Postal votes should not be put through the council letter boxes, or via internal council mailboxes as these will have to be rejected.

Anyone voting in person will have to show a form of photo ID.

Anyone without an eligible form of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC).

Applications for a VAC or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for these elections must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. 

Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate can be made online here

For more information about the Ormsgill ward by-election for Barrow Town Council, visit the Westmorland and Furness Council website.