Voter ID
The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.
Which forms of ID can I use to vote?
You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:
• Passport
• Driving licence (including provisional licence)
• Blue badge
• Certain concessionary travel cards
• Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
• Biometric Immigration document
• Defence identity card
• Certain national identity cards
For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.
If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID
If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply for this at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate, where you can also download an application to send in.
Anyone who wants to have their say in the elections this May must also be registered to vote. Most people are already registered, and if you have then there is no need to do anything further, but for those not registered, it only takes five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Voters wishing to apply for the free Voter Authority Certificate will first need to make sure they are registered to vote.
The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on Monday 17 April 2023.
The deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
Find out more
If you have any questions or would like to find out more, go to electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID, or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.
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