Lancashire County Council Elections

Lancashire County Council elections are taking place on Thursday 1 May 2025.

It is now too late to apply to go on the register to vote at the election on 1 May 2025.

It is now too late to apply for a postal vote for the election on 1 May 2025.

There is one vacancy in each of the 9 divisions in Preston.

For more information, please visit the Elections section on the Lancashire County Council website.

New Polling Stations

This year, we held a Polling District and Polling Place Review. As a result of this Review, we have changed some of our polling stations to new premises. These are listed below:

Details of the new polling stations are shown on your poll cards which have now been sent out.

Election Notices

Statement of Persons Nominated - Preston (PDF, 481 KB) - a list of candidates who you can vote for at the Lancashire County Council elections

Notice of Election Agents - Preston (PDF, 478 KB) - a list of election agents and candidates

Notice of Election (PDF, 33 KB)

Would you like to stand as a Candidate?

The nomination period has now closed. The list of candidates are shown in the Statement of Persons Nominated above as well as the list of agents in the Notice of Election Agents.

The full list of candidates for the whole area of Lancashire, can be found on the Candidates section of the Lancashire County Council website.

Electoral Commission Guidance

• Electorate Statistics (PDF, 84 KB) - Electorate statistics
• Election Timetable (PDF, 47 KB) - Election timetable
• Electoral Commission Guidance - Standing as a Candidate (PDF, 941 KB) - Electoral Commission Guidance - Standing as a Candidate
• Electoral Commission Guidance - Spending & Donations (PDF, 292 KB) - Electoral Commission Guidance - Spending & Donations
• Electoral Commission Guidance - The Campaign (PDF, 152 KB) - Electoral Commission Guidance - The Campaign
• Electoral Commission Guidance - Nominations (PDF, 129 KB) - Electoral Commission Guidance - Nominations
• Electoral Commission Guidance - Postal Voting (PDF, 99 KB) - Electoral Commission Guidance - Postal Voting
• Electoral Commission Guidance - Polling Day (PDF, 99 KB) - Electoral Commission Guidance - Polling Day
• Electoral Commission Guidance - Verification and Count (PDF, 83 KB) - Electoral Commission Guidance - Verification and Count
• Electoral Commission Guidance - After the Election (PDF, 102 KB) - Electoral Commission Guidance - After the Election

Going on holiday?

You can vote by post or proxy. It is now too late to apply for a postal vote for the election on 1 May 2025.

For further information, visit How to Vote. 

The deadline for us to receive your application to vote by proxy is at 5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025.

If you would like a postal vote because you will be away on 1 May 2025, please be aware that we have two lots of despatch dates.

If you have an existing postal vote in place or have applied successfully before 18th March, 2025, you can expect your ballot pack to be despatched from the printers around 14th April. 

Please note this date is reliant on our specialist printers and Royal Mail but should give you approximate dates if you are going to be away from home and are considering a postal vote.

If you applied for a postal vote between 19 March and the deadline of 5pm, Monday 14 April, 2025, you can expect your ballot pack to be despatched from the printers around 22 April.

We are unable to post out the packs any earlier due to legal deadlines, including knowing which candidates will be standing in which area to print the ballot paper for the pack.

Please be aware that if you apply for a postal vote close to the deadline date, then the ballot papers will be despatched close to the election which will require a fast turnaround. 

If that doesn't fit in with your plans, you can apply for a proxy up to 5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025. Please be aware of the deadline dates above for postal voting (in case your proxy wishes to vote by post).

When should I register to vote?

It is now too late to apply to go on the register to vote at the election on 1 May 2025.

How do I vote?

At the Polling Station

You can vote at the polling station and will be sent a poll card prior to the election. Please remember to bring your ID with you. If you do not have any ID to show the polling station staff, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply for a Certificate on Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

Vote by Post

It is now too late to apply for a postal vote for the election on 1 May 2025.

You can apply to vote by post for future elections online at  Apply for a postal vote . You will need to provide your national insurance number when you apply. There will be two despatches of postal ballot papers, the second one being close to the election so if you apply early, your ballot papers could be included in the first despatch.

More information about different voting methods is available on How to vote.

Voter ID

Most people will already have ID.  The list of ID is here:

• Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British Overseas Territory
• Passport or passport card issued by an EEA state or a country whose citizens are Commonwealth citizens
• Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
• A Blue Badge
• Older Person's Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom (eg Now Bus Pass)
• Disabled Person's Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
• Oyster 60+ Card funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
• Freedom Pass
• National Entitlement Card issued by a local authority in Scotland
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person's SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric immigration document
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veterans Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• Temporary Voter Authority Certificate

You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy. You cannot show a copy on your mobile phone.

You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.

Important Dates

• It is now too late to apply to go on the register to vote at the election on 1 May 2025.
• It is now too late to apply for a postal vote for the election on 1 May 2025.
• The last day for us to receive your application for a Voter Authority Certificate for use at these elections is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025
• The last day for us to receive your application to vote by proxy at these elections is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025.

Lancashire County Council Election Timetable

YouTube Video - Be a Councillor 2024

Map address for new polling stations

Preston Minster, Church Street, Preston, PR1 3BT
Preston Community Hub, Samuel Street, Preston, PR1 4YE
St Bernard's Community Hub, Elswick Road, Larches, Preston, PR2 1NT
St Christopher's Church Lea, 851 Blackpool Road, Lea, Preston, PR2 1QS
Longridge Town Football Club, Inglewhite Road, Longridge, Preston, PR3 2NA
Farringdon Park Community Centre, Thirlmere Road, Ribbleton, Preston, PR1 5TR