In 2022 the Conservative Party introduced a bill to make it compulsory to provide Photo ID when voting in future elections, from the May 2023 Local Elections and including all future General Elections. You will not be allowed to vote without presenting one of the accepted forms of ID.
The best way to ensure you don't need to do this is to register for Postal Voting. This must be done by 5pm on the 18th April 2023
Apply for a postal vote - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Alternatively you can apply for voter ID, known as the 'Voter Authority Certificate'. The deadline for this is 5pm on the 25th April 2023
You will need to already be registered to vote and you will need to photo ID to upload
Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Further information is available at the Electoral Commission's website, including the acceptable forms of ID. Please note that a Young Person's Railcard will NOT be accepted
Voter ID | Electoral Commission
These forms of photo ID are accepted when voting at a polling station:
- Passport (issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country)
- Driving licence (issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state, includes provisional driving licences)
- PASS card (identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram)
- Biometric immigration document
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
- Blue Badge
- Older Person’s Bus Pass
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
- Oyster 60+ Card
- Freedom Pass
- Scottish National Entitlement Card
- 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Senior SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
- Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
- War Disablement SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
- 60+ SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
- Half Fare SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
- Electoral Identity Card (issued in Northern Ireland)
