From 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. This will apply to:
- Local elections
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
- UK parliamentary by-elections
- From October 2023 it will also apply to UK General elections.
Accepted forms of photo ID
You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.
International travel
- 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 and Parking
- Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
- A Blue Badge
Local travel
- Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
- Oyster 60+ Card funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
Proof of age
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
Other government issued documents
- Biometric immigration document
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
- Voter Authority Certificate
- Anonymous Elector’s Document
You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.
Out of date photo ID
You can still use your photo ID if it’s out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID
You can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, if: you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID; you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you; you’re worried about using an existing form of ID for any other reason, such as the use of a gender marker You need to register to vote before applying for a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline for both these has now passed for the May 2023 elections, but you can prepare for the next elections as soon as you want.
How to vote in person on the day
Check where your polling station is, and go to vote between 7am and 10pm on polling day.
When you arrive at your polling station, a staff member will ask for your name and check that you are on the electoral register. They will ask to see your ID, check that it’s accepted, and that it looks like you.
The staff member will cross your name off the register and give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.
Take your ballot paper (or papers) to a polling booth, so that you can cast your vote in secret. Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting methods, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
Complete your ballot paper using the pencil provided in the polling booth. You can also use your own pen if you want to. Don’t write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
If you make a mistake, don’t put your ballot paper in the ballot box. Ask the polling station staff for a replacement ballot paper, and fill it in again.
Once you’re done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.
