Notices of Election for polls on May 2 have been published.

If contested, voters in the Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness areas will head to the polls to elect a Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC).

In addition, elections for certain parish and town councils within the Cumberland Council region are set to occur on the same day.

Cumberland Council acts as the lead authority for the Cumbria PFCC elections which are being coordinated in conjunction with Westmorland and Furness Council.

Any questions related to postal and proxy votes, and Voter Authority Certificates, should be directed to the relevant elections team either at Cumberland Council or Westmorland and Furness Council.

For those interested in running in the PFCC elections, nomination papers can be acquired from the Office of the Police Area Returning Officer, situated at Allerdale House on New Bridge Road, Workington, CA14 3YJ.

Once filled, these forms should be returned by 4pm on Friday, April 5.

For more information, candidates can reach the elections team via email at elections@cumberland.gov.uk.

Parish Council elections are also taking place in some areas.

This includes Brampton, Carlatton, Castle Carrock, Cumrew, Cumwhitton, Hayton, and Wetheral Parish Council's, as well as a by-election for Silloth on Solway Town Council.

Aspiring candidates can reach out to the relevant parish clerk or the elections team via the earlier mentioned email address.

Nomination papers for these roles can be obtained from the Offices of the Returning Officer at Cumberland Council, Civic Centre, Rickergate, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8QG.

Deadline for submission remains 4pm on April 5.

To be eligible to vote in these upcoming elections, applications for registration must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on Tuesday, April 16.

These applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

However, for those choosing to vote by post, their applications, amendments or cancellations of existing postal votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday, April 17.

Voters are encouraged to use the provided Royal Mail envelope, if possible.

New guidelines have been put in place regarding postal voting, including new restrictions on the quantity of postal votes that one person can hand in.

In-person voters are reminded to present photo ID.

Those without a valid form of ID can apply online for a Voter Authority Certificate at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.

The deadline for these applications is 5pm on Wednesday, April 24.

Applications for proxy votes must also be submitted by April 24 at 5pm.

For emergency proxy votes, the deadline is May 2 at 5pm.

For additional details on the forthcoming elections in Cumbria, please consult the council's websites www.cumberland.gov.uk and www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.

Cumberland Council can be contacted at Elections Team, Allerdale House, New Bridge Road, Workington, CA14 3YJ, by email at elections@cumberland.gov.uk, or via telephone at 0300 373 3730.

Westmorland and Furness Council is accessible at Elections Team, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, LA9 4DQ., at the email address elections3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk, or by calling 0300 373 3300.