A by-election will be held in Farley on Thursday March 13.
Following the resignation of Councillor Robin Harris last week, the by-election will contest one of Farley ward’s three seats on the authority. The elected councillor will serve until May 2015, when the whole council is up for election.
The hours of poll for all elections are 7am to 10pm.
At full strength Luton Borough Council has 48 members representing 19 wards, and there are currently 35 Labour, eight Liberal Democrat and four Conservative councillors.
Anyone wishing to stand as a candidate should contact the council’s electoral services manager on 01582 546088 for a nomination pack, to be completed and returned to the Returning Officer at Luton Town Hall by no later than noon on Friday 14 February.
If there are two candidates or more, the confirmed list of candidates standing will be published on the council’s website on the afternoon of February 18.
Residents of Farley who are currently on the register of electors will receive a poll card by February 17 explaining how, where and when to vote.
Electors can vote without the poll card, which is supplied for information only, but it can be easier if they take it with them.
Residents of Farley who are not currently on the electoral register need to complete a registration form and ensure it reaches the Town Hall by midnight on February 25.
A registration form is available on the website www.aboutmyvote.co.uk and by calling 01582 510380.
Electors who know that they will be unable to get to the polling station on March 13 can apply for a postal or proxy vote.
Voting by proxy means that the elector appoints someone they trust to vote on their behalf, and can be useful if an elector falls ill or if they are abroad on election day and may experience difficulty returning a postal vote in time.
To vote by either post or proxy, residents firstly need to be on the electoral register. Then they need to complete the relevant application form. Electors can apply to vote by post or by proxy by visiting the website www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. and by calling 01582 510380.
Electors voting by post or by proxy must sign their application form personally for voting security reasons.
Completed, printed and signed postal vote application forms must reach Luton Town Hall by 5pm on Wednesday February 26.
Completed, printed and signed proxy vote applications forms must reach Luton Town Hall by 5pm on Wednesday March 5, except in a medical emergency when an application can be made up until 5pm on Thursday March 13.
Verification and counting of votes will take place immediately following the close of poll at Luton Town Hall and the result will be published on the council’s website as soon as possible at www.luton.gov.uk.
Registration, postal and proxy application forms should be returned to: Electoral Registration Officer, Luton Borough Council, Town Hall, George Street, Luton LU1 2BQ.
A full list of addresses in Farley ward, and the appropriate polling station where electors can vote, will be available on the Luton Borough Council website at www.luton.gov.uk, search ‘Farley by-election 2014’ by February 18.
Citizens of the European Union are eligible to vote in local government elections.
Guidance for candidates on spending, campaigning and completing the nomination papers is also available on the Electoral Commission website at www.electoralcommission.org