Elections

A vacancy has arisen in Hareholme and Waterwoot ward due to the resignation of Councillor Tom Belli.

Requests to hold the election have been received from 2 electors, the election will take place on Thursday 2 April 2026.

How to Stand as a Candidate

Nomination packs for the by-election will be available for collection from Wednesday 25 February 2026, from Electoral Services, Futures Park, Bacup, OL13 0BB.  Please contact Electoral Services if you wish to collect a pack.

The nomination period will be open from 9.00am on Friday 27 February and closes at 4.00pm on Friday 6 March 2026.

For more information about standing as a candidate or to obtain a nomination pack, please contact Electoral Services.  Further information and nomination forms are also available from the Electoral Commission.

You can find information on becoming a councillor at Elections — #MakeAChange (nalc.gov.uk)

Register to vote

Registered voters will be sent a poll card from 7 March onwards.  If you have not received a poll card by 15 March 2026, 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 17 March 2026.

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 qualifying 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 from 7 March onwards 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 18 March 2026.

If you wish to apply to vote by post, you must submit your application before 5pm on Wednesday 18 March 2026.  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 20 March 2026 (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 25 March 2026.  If you are already registered to vote by post, you must cancel your postal vote before 5pm on Wednesday 18 March 2026 if you now wish to vote by proxy.  You can apply for a proxy vote here.

When will I receive my postal vote?

All postal votes will be issued around 20 March 2026 so they should start to be received from 21 March, subject to Royal Mail delivery times.

If you have not received your postal vote by Friday 27 March 2026 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 paper and a postal voting statement.  You can vote for 1 candidate only in the Hareholme and Waterfoot by-election.  Complete the statement with your date of birth and signature and put a cross next to your choice of candidate.  Completed postal votes need to be returned to the Returning Officer by 10pm on Thursday 2 April 2026.  If you miss the post you can hand your completed postal vote into any polling station in Hareholme and Waterfoot ward 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 27 March and 5pm on Thursday 2 April 2026.

Voting by proxy

If you will be away or cannot go to the polling station on 2 April, 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 25 March 2026.  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 18 March 2026.  You can apply to vote by proxy here.

If after 5pm on Wednesday 25 March 2026 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 April 2026.

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 one candidate only at the by-election.  Simply put an X (a cross) next to the candidate you wish to vote for.

Who is elected

The candidate with the most votes will be elected using the first past the post system.    

Results

The count will take place on Thursday 2 April 2026 at 10.30pm.  The result will be announced at the conclusion of the count and will be published on this website.

More information

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