May elections
If there are elections in your area, you will shortly receive your poll card. You will need to have photo ID in order to be able to vote at a polling station.
If you need to register to vote you need to do this by 11.59pm on 17 April 2023. To apply or make changes to postal or proxy votes, you need to do this before 5pm on 18 April 2023.
Voter photo ID
From 4 May 2023 you will need to have photo ID in order to be able to vote at a polling station. You do not need to have ID for postal voting.
ID you can use
You can use any of the following:
- passport
- driving licence (this includes a provisional driving licence)
- blue badge
- older person’s or disabled person's bus pass
- identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
- biometric immigration document
You can use your ID even if it is out of date, as long as the photo looks like you. There are other types of ID that you can use, you can find out more on The Electoral Commission website.
Photo ID for voting
If you do not have an accepted form of ID you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for free. The deadline to apply for the local elections on 4 May 2023 is 5pm Tuesday 25 April 2023.