Voter ID

The UK government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at 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 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

Please note: if you have a form of accepted ID that is out of date, you can still use it to vote at a polling station if it still looks like you. 

If you don’t have an accepted form 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 VAC). You can apply for this on GOV.UK.

Alternatively, you can complete a paper application form and send this to the electoral services team at your local council. If you want to request an application form, contact our Electoral Registration team on 01582 510380

The deadline to apply for a VAC for use at the elections in May 2023 is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

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.