Bring your photo ID to vote

At the District and Parish Council elections on 4 May 2023, anyone attending a polling station to vote will be required to show an accepted form of photographic identification (photo ID) before they are given a ballot paper to vote.

This will reduce voter fraud.

You are not required to provide photo ID for postal voting.

What types of photo ID will be accepted?

The following forms of identification will be accepted:

  • 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 (including provisional licences
  • Biometric immigration documents
  • Identity cards bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) hologram
  • Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
  • Blue Badge
  • National identity card issued by an EEA state
  • Concessionary travel passes:
  • older persons' bus pass
  • disabled persons' 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

If your photo ID has expired, it will still be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of you.

Staff at Polling Stations will not be able to accept photocopies or other pictures of photo ID.

If your name has changed (e.g. through marriage, deed poll etc), you should bring along additional supporting documents, such as a marriage or civil partnership certificate that provides evidence of the name change.

If you have appointed a proxy to vote on your behalf, your proxy must bring their own photo ID to the polling station. They will not need to bring photo ID of you (the voter).

You can check if you have the appropriate voter ID by visiting Voter ID | Electoral Commission

What do I do if I don’t have any photo ID?

If you do not have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. Voter Authority Certificates can be applied for by post by downloading the form from Voter ID | Electoral Commission , or online by visiting Voter ID | Electoral Commission.

A Voter Authority Certificate is a free photo ID document specific for the purposes of voting.

If you need to apply, we recommend that you do this in good time ahead to be ready for the elections in May.

Find out more

To find out more about Voter ID, visit Voter ID | Electoral Commission or email VoterID@southderbyshire.gov.uk