To be able to vote at a polling station, you will need to bring photo ID with you to vote in polling stations, this is a new requirement following changes to the law. If you don't have acceptable photo ID, you will not be able to vote.
If you don’t have photo ID, you will need to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April. It’s quick and easy to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, applying takes around 5 minutes.
Your ID needs to be the original. It cannot be a photocopy, or pictures of ID on mobile phones.
Acceptable ID can be:
- A passport.
- A driving licence (including provisional licence).
- Blue Badge.
- Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme).
- Certain concessionary travel cards.
- Biometric immigration document.
- Defence identity card.
- National identity card.
If you have one of these IDs, but it is out of date, you can still use it to vote at a polling station if it still looks like you.
Other forms of ID are acceptable. The Electoral Commission website contains a full list of accepted forms of photo ID and further information about the introduction of voter ID.
If you don't have one of the accepted forms of photo ID, you will be able to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) which will be accepted in polling stations. To apply please visit the Gov.uk website by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.
Postal voters will not be affected and will be issued with their postal ballot papers as usual. If you choose to vote by proxy then the person who will vote on your behalf will have to take their own photo ID to the polling station.