Remember your voter ID
With the Police and Crime Commissioner elections taking place on 2 May 2024 and a general election scheduled for some time this year, making sure you have valid photo ID is extremely important.
In the UK, you are now legally required to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at elections. So don't miss out on your chance to vote.
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 license)
- 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
You will only need to show one form of photo ID, but it needs to be the original version and not a photocopy. The name on your ID must be the same name you used to register to vote.
For more information, including the full list of accepted forms of photo ID, 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 voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk.
Alternatively, you can contact Electoral Services for a paper application form.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for use at a particular election is 5pm, 6 working days before the date of that election.