Langthwaite BID Renewal 2026 – 2031 - Ballot Papers & Process

You should have all now received your ballot papers, which were despatched by CIVICA on 1st October 2025. The ballot will run until 31st October 2025.

Wakefield Council has appointed the Independent Scrutineer, Civica Election Services (CES) of 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW to conduct the ballot. The ballot is run entirely by post. Ballot Papers have been sent to those eligible to vote on Wednesday 1 October 2025 to be returned to CES by no later than 5pm on Friday 31 October 2025 (the “day of the ballot”).

Please find below information relating to the Ballot Process.  

Lost Ballot Papers / What to do if you do not receive your ballot paper? 

Ballot Papers were despatched on Wednesday 1 October 2025. If you have not received your ballot paper in the week after this date, please apply for a replacement ballot paper. CES can provide a replacement request form to aid the process of requesting a replacement and providing all the necessary information.

You may apply to CES for a replacement paper by supplying ONE of the following:

a) An email sent from a business account including a company email signature; or

b) A letter in hard copy form along with the appropriate ‘evidence of identity’; or

c) A scan of both the letter and the ‘evidence of identity’ attached to an email.

Any email requests should be sent to bids.UK@civica.com. Hard Copy requests should be addressed to The Independent Scrutineer, Civica Election Services, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW.

Hard copy requests must be signed by the Eligible Voter and evidence of the voter’s identity must be provided in the form of ONE of the following:

a) A signed Letterhead for the appropriate company;

b) or A signed photocopy of the National Non-Domestic Rating Bill for the hereditament;

c) or A signed photocopy of an item of personal ID such as a Passport or Driving Licence.



Please do not send original copies of ID or Bills.

Very Important  – Please Note: - CES will issue any replacements that match the requirements detailed above from the replacement deadline on Monday 27 October 2025. They cannot do so before that date due to the legislation. The ballot closes at 5pm on the 31st of October 2025, so please make sure that you return your ballot paper as soon as possible to enable CES to receive it before the deadline of 5pm on the 31st of October 2025.

Appointing a Proxy 

Persons eligible to vote in the BID ballot may appoint someone else to vote on their behalf (for example, if they are going to be away at the time of the ballot).

Applications to appoint a proxy must be submitted to Civica Election Services (CES) at the above address no later than 5pm on Tuesday 21 October 2025.

An application for the appointment of a proxy must be made in writing and:

a) state the full name and address of the person whom the person entitled to vote (the applicant) wishes to appoint as a proxy;

b) state the address(es) of the applicant’s hereditament or hereditaments;

c) be signed by the applicant;

d) and contain a statement by the applicant that the proxy so named has been consulted and is capable and willing to be appointed.

A proxy appointment may be cancelled by notifying CES at the above address no later than 5pm on Sunday 26 October 2025

Spoilt Ballot Papers 

If you inadvertently spoil your ballot paper in such a manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper, please return it to CES (address above). On receipt of the spoilt ballot paper, CES will issue a replacement. No replacements can be issued if the spoilt ballot paper is received by CES later than three working days before the day of the ballot.

Count of Ballot Papers 

Ballot papers will be counted on Monday 3 November 2025, and the result of the ballot will be announced shortly after. 

For a BID ballot to be successful there must be a majority of those voting in favour of the proposal, and those voting in favour must represent a majority of the aggregate rateable value of the hereditaments voting.

Rejected Ballot Papers 

If a ballot paper is duplicated and two are returned bearing the same number or barcode both will be void and not counted. Any ballot papers that are returned unsigned, unmarked or that are void for uncertainty will also be void and not counted.

Declaring the result 

The ballot result will declare:

a) the total number of valid votes cast;

b) the total aggregate rateable value of valid votes cast;

c) the total number of valid votes cast in favour of the BID;

d) the total aggregate rateable value of valid votes in favour of the BID;

e) and if applicable, the total number of ballot papers rejected.

For the BID Ballot to be successful there must be:

i. A majority in favour of the BID in the number of those voting;

ii. and A majority in favour of the BID in the proportion of rateable value of those voting.