THE public is heading to the polls today as elections take place in England and Northern Ireland.

Cumberland

The Cumberland council area will see elections in 25 contested parish council seats.

In Carlisle, just one ward - Nicholforest - is being contested. There are six wards being contested in the Copeland area. The votes in these two areas will be counted after the polls close on Thursday night.

In Allerdale, voters will go to the polls in 18 parishes and parish wards. The count will take place at Workington leisure Centre the following day.

Westmorland and Furness

The Westmorland and Furness area, meanwhile, will see votes cast for seven parish and town councils. 

The elections will result in the first ever councillors for Barrow Parish Council being chosen. The brand-new local authority will be centred on the town of Barrow itself and have 11 wards represented by a total of 21 members.

READ MORE: The candidates set to vie for positions on brand-new council

The other six – all established councils – on the list of seven are:

  • Penrith Town Council – the Penrith North, Penrith South and Penrith West wards
  • Asby Parish Council
  • Crosby Ravensworth Parish Council
  • Kirkby Stephen Parish Council
  • Matterdale Parish Council
  • Musgrave Parish Council

A by-election for Westmorland and Furness Council (WFC), the unitary authority that began operating on April 1 of this year, is also taking place.

Three candidates are contesting the Old Barrow and Hindpool ward, which would have been occupied by Ann Thomson. 

Ms Thomson died in January following a period of illness. She was the leader of Barrow Borough Council and the leader of the Labour group on the WFC shadow authority, which oversaw planning and preparation for the new council, at the time of her death.

Residents should have received poll cards telling them where to go to vote.

Voters must show ID at polling stations today for the first time.

Acceptable forms of photo ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport, a UK or EEA driver's licence, some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass, and a voter authority certificate. A voter will be able to use an expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Polling stations are to open at 7am and close at 10pm.

Counting for the elections is to take place overnight tonight. Results will be announced online by WFC as soon as they are known.