Elections

A parliamentary election will take place on Thursday 4 July for the election of a Member of Parliament for the Rossendale and Darwen constituency.

You can view the Notice of Election here.  You can view the Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll here.  You can view the Notice of Election Agents here.  You can view the Situation of Polling Stations Notice here.

How to Stand as a Candidate

Nomination packs will be available for collection from Monday 3 June 2024, from Electoral Services, The Business Centre, Futures Park, Bacup, OL13 0BB.  Please contact Electoral Services if you wish to collect a pack.

The nomination period will open at 9am on Monday 4 June (subject to the Writ being received on Friday 31 May) and will close at 4pm on Friday 7 June 2024.  Further information for candidates and election agents, and nomination forms, are also available from the Electoral Commission

Register to vote

Registered voters will be sent a poll card from 6 June onwards.  If you have not received a poll card by 13 June 2024, 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 18 June 2024.

Overseas Voters

Overseas voters can also register to vote online  Due to the short timescales we are recommending that overseas voters appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf as we cannot guarantee that a postal vote would reach them in time.

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,

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

Voting by post

Voters who were already registered to vote by post by Monday 27 May 2024 will be sent a postal poll card around 6 June 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 19 June 2024.

If you wish to apply to vote by post, you must submit your application before 5pm on Wednesday 19 June 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 19 June (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 26 June 2024.  If you are already registered to vote by post, you must cancel your postal vote before 5pm on Wednesday 19 June 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 Thursday 30 May 2024, your postal vote will be sent around 19 June 2024 by first class mail.  If we receive your application between Friday 31 May and the deadline of 5pm on Wednesday 19 June 2024 then your postal vote will be issued around 27 June 2024.

If you have not received your postal vote by Friday 28 June  2024 please contact Electoral Services.

How do I complete my postal vote?

When you receive your postal vote, read the instructions carefully.  Your postal vote includes the ballot papers and a postal voting statement.  You can only vote for 1 candidate in this election.  Complete both of these and return them straight away.  Completed postal votes need to be returned to the Returning Officer by 10pm on Thursday 4 July  2024.  If you miss the post you can hand your completed postal vote into any polling station in Rossendale and Darwen 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 28 June and 5pm on Thursday 4 July 2024.

Voting by proxy

If you will be away or cannot go to the polling station on 4 July, 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 26 June 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 19 June 2024.  You can apply to vote by proxy here.

If after 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 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 4 July 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).