Lancashire County Council Elections

Lancashire County Council elections are taking place on Thursday 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.

Notice of Election

Notice of Election (PDF, 33 KB)

Would you like to stand as a Candidate?

If you wish to stand as a candidate at the election on Thursday 1 May 2025, the nomination packs are now available.

Where to collect nomination packs

Online

• Letter - Nomination Pack covering letter (PDF, 99 KB) - Covering Letter for the nomination pack
• Nomination Pack (PDF, 225 KB) - Nomination Pack
• Register and Absent Voters Request Form (PDF, 108 KB) - Request form for the register and absent voters list
• 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

In Person

You will be able to collect printed copies of the nomination pack from Electoral Services, Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL (not from County Hall) from Monday 3 March 2025.

Please call the Elections Office on 01772 906123 / 906482 to let us know when you wish to come to the Town Hall to collect the packs and how many packs you require.

Candidates and Agents Meeting

A meeting of all candidates and agents is to be held on Thursday 10 April 2025 at 6pm at the Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL.

Regulatory support team advice surgeries - 8, 9 and 10 April 2025 - Electoral Commission

In the run-up to the May 2025 local elections, the Electoral Commission are hosting advice surgeries for candidates and agents to support them with the candidate spending laws, practical aspects of their campaign, and completing spending return.

The surgeries will provide a 20-minute, one-to-one slot for any candidates or agents who have questions or would like advice or guidance.

If you are aware of any potential candidates and agents who may benefit from attending this webinar, please forward this information to them.

The surgeries will take place on 8, 9 and 10 April 2025.

If you would like to register, please complete this form (opens in new window).

If you have any questions, please contact pef@electoralcommission.org.uk.

Going on holiday?

Please apply for a postal vote as soon as possible. You can vote by post or proxy.

For further information, visit How to Vote. The deadline for us to receive your application to vote by post is at 5pm on Monday 14 April 2025.

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.

For current postal voters the ballot papers will be despatched on 14 April 2025. For new postal voters (those who have applied for a postal vote between 18 March and 14 April 2025) the ballot papers will be despatched on 22 April 2025. 

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?

You can register now.  It is advisable to register early.  If you are already on the register, you do not need to register again.

If you are not on the register, you can apply online at Gov.uk. More information is available on Register to vote

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

If you would like to vote by post at these elections, please apply as early as possible so that you will receive your ballot papers in good time. More information about despatch dates is provided above.

You can apply to vote by post 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, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
• Photo Driving Licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
• A Blue Badge
• Older Person's Bus Pass
• Disabled Person's Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• 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
• HM Armed Forces Veterans Card

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

• The last date to register to vote for the Lancashire County Council elections is Friday 11 April 2025.
• The last day for us to receive your application to vote by post at these elections is 5pm on Monday 14 April 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