Elections

On Thursday 2 May 2024 elections will be held to elect 30 Councillors for Rossendale Borough Council.  We have recently undergone a ward boundary review by the Local Government Boundary Commission, this resulted in our number of wards being reduced from 14 to 10 and our Councillors from 36 to 30.  Following the review we are now required to hold all-out elections in every new ward and you will be able to vote for up to 3 candidates.  This means that 3 councillors will be elected in each of the following wards:

• Bacup
• Britannia & Lee Mill
• Goodshaw & Cribden
• Greenfield & Eden
• Hareholme & Waterfoot
• Haslingden
• Helmshore
• Longholme
• Whitewell & Stacksteads
• Whitworth

You can view the Notice of Election here.  You can view the Notice of Poll and situation of polling stations here.  You can view the results for each ward here.

How to Stand as a Candidate

Nominations for these elections have now closed.  You can view the statement of persons nominated here and can view their election agents here.

Police & Crime Commissioner Election

An election will also be held on Thursday 2 May 2024 to elect a Police & Crime Commissioner for Lancashire. Nomination papers for the Police & Crime Commissioner election are available  from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.   All general enquiries about the Police & Crime Commissioner election from candidates and agents should be made to the Police Area Returning Officer's team at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council:  voting@blackburn.gov.uk or by telephoning 01254 585920.  Information regarding the Police & Crime Commissioner election can be found here.  Information regarding the Lancashire PCC commissioner can be found here.

You can view the Notice of Election here.  The Notice for the submission of candidate election addresses can be viewed here.  You can view the statement of persons nominated here and their election agents here.

Register to vote

Registered voters will be sent a poll card between the end of March and early April.  If you have not received a poll card by 9 April 2023, or you have recently moved, you may not be registered to vote.  You can register to vote online or contact Electoral Services and request a paper copy of the form.  The deadline to register to vote at these elections is midnight on Tuesday 16 April 2024.

Who can vote

To vote at these elections, you must be aged 18 or over on election day and be a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of another member state of the European Union.

Your name must appear on the Electoral Register before you can vote.

Voting by post

Voters who have already requested to vote by post will be sent a postal poll card around the end of March with information about their postal vote.  If you wish to cancel your postal vote and vote in person at your polling station, you must notify Electoral Services before 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

If you wish to apply to vote by post, you must submit your application before 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.  You can apply for a postal vote online here.

If you require a postal vote because you will be away on election day but are going away before they are posted around 18 April (please see further information about issue dates below), you may wish to consider voting by proxy instead.  if you wish to vote by proxy, you must submit your application before 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.  If you are already registered to vote by post, you must cancel your postal vote before 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024 if you now wish to vote by proxy.  You can apply for a proxy vote here.

When will I receive my postal vote?

If you are already registered to vote by post or your application reaches us by Friday 15 March 2024, your postal vote will be sent around 17 April 2024 by first class mail.  If we receive your application between Monday 18 March and the deadline of 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024 then your postal vote will be issued around 25 April 2024.

If you have not received your postal vote by Friday 26 April 2024 please contact Electoral Services. This video shows you how to complete your postal vote pack, please note you have 3 votes for the Rossendale BC elections and 1 for the PCC election 

How do I complete my postal vote?

When you receive your postal vote, read the instructions carefully.  Your postal vote includes the ballot paper(s) and a postal voting statement.  You can vote for up to 3 candidates in the Rossendale Borough Council elections and 1 candidate in the Police & Crime Commissioner election.  Complete all of these and return them straight away.  Completed postal votes need to be returned to the Returning Officer by 10pm on Thursday 2 May 2024.  If you miss the post you can hand your completed postal vote into any polling station in the Ward in which you are registered or at Futures Park in Bacup.  Please note that due to new regulations introduced by the Elections Act you will need to complete a form to hand in with your postal vote, please do not post any completed postal votes through the letterbox at our offices as your vote will be rejected.

If you need help to vote, you can ask someone you know or get independent help by contacting Electoral Services.

If you lose your postal vote or make a mistake, contact Electoral Services straight away.  A replacement postal vote can only be issued between Friday 26 April and 5pm on Thursday 2 May 2024.

Voting by proxy

If you will be away or cannot go to the polling station on 2 May, you can apply to vote by proxy.  This means someone else can vote on your behalf.

Completed applications must reach us before 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.  Your appointed proxy must attend your polling station to vote on your behalf.  If they are unable to attend your polling station they can apply to vote by postal proxy but they must do so before 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.  You can apply to vote by proxy here.

If after 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024 you have a medical emergency or learn you cannot go to the polling station because of work reasons, you can apply to vote by emergency proxy.  This means someone else can vote on your behalf.  The deadline for completed applications is 5pm on Thursday 2 May 2024.

How to vote

Always read the instructions on how to complete the ballot paper carefully, even if you have voted before.  The ballot paper lists the name of each candidate along with their party name and party logo (if any).

You are able to vote for up to 3 candidates at the Rossendale Borough Council election and 1 candidate at the Police & Crime Commissioner election.  Simply put an X (a cross) next to the candidate(s) you wish to vote for.

Who is elected

The candidates with the most votes will be elected using the first past the post system.  A total of 30 Borough Councillors for Rossendale will be elected.  

Results

The count will take place on Friday 3 May 2024 at 8.30am.  Results will be announced throughout the day and will be published on this website.

More information

If you would like more information about these elections, please contact Electoral Services