There will be local elections in England on 4th May 2023. The Elections Act 2022 brought in the requirement to show photographic identification for voters at these and all future elections. If you already have the right ID document, remember to take it when you vote.
If you don’t have one of the accepted forms of photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
If you want to vote on 4th May and you don’t have any of the accepted forms of ID, you will need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on 25th April or you will be unable to vote.
See https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
You don’t need photo ID to vote by post.
For information about registering to vote without a fixed address see
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-to-vote-if-you-havent-got-a-fixed-or-permanent-address
Here is the electoral registration form for England Register-to-vote-if-you-havent-got-a-fixed-or-permanent-address-England
Don’t let this new law stop you voting! Many opponents of the Elections Act are concerned that vulnerable, low income communities, who by coincidence are less likely to vote Conservative, will be disenfranchised.
What forms of existing ID will be accepted by polling stations?
If you have one of the following list of documents, you can use it to prove who you are when you vote, as long as the photo still looks like you:
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 (this includes a provisional driving licence)
A Blue Badge
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
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
Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
Biometric immigration document
Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
National identity card issued by an EEA state
Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
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.
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