Voter ID at Polling Stations

Under the new Elections Act 2022, electors will be required to show photographic ID when voting at a Polling Station. 

From May 2023, if you want to vote in person at the polling station (including those acting as a proxy on behalf of another person) you will need to present an accepted form of photographic ID to prove your identity.

You can find out more information at Voter ID (Electoral Commission)

Types of photo ID accepted

You must present one of the following forms of photographic identification to vote in person 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
• Biometric immigration document
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• Blue Badge
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Older Person’s Bus Pass
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled 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
• Voter Authority Certificate or a temporary Voter Authority Certificate

Expired photographic identification documents can still be used as accepted photographic ID at the polling station if the photograph is still a good likeness of you.

What if I don't have any photo ID?

If you do not have any of the above forms of photographic identification, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate here (GOV.uk). This is a free A4 document containing your name and photograph.

This certificate can only be used for voting in person at a polling station.

Before you apply, you must:

• already be registered to vote
• not be a current registered postal voter (Voter ID only applies to electors voting in person at a polling station)
• check the accepted photographic ID list above, to ensure you don’t already have a suitable ID

If you need any help with applying for a Voter Authority Certificate or want to request a paper application form, contact us at electoral.services@lbbd.gov.uk

If you’ve changed your name

The name on your ID must match your name on the electoral register. If it does not, you’ll need to either:

• register to vote again with your new details, or
• take a document with you to vote that proves you’ve changed your name (for example, a marriage certificate)

Small differences do not matter – for example, if your ID says ‘Jim Smith’ instead of ‘James Smith’.