Introduction to Photo ID Rules
Since May 2023, you must show photo ID to vote in person at polling stations in England for most elections, including local and general elections.
Acceptable Photo ID
The list of acceptable Photo ID includes
- UK or EEA passport
- UK photocard driving licence
- Blue Badge
- Older or Disabled Person’s Bus Pass (England only)
- PASS card (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- Ministry of Defence ID card
- Biometric immigration document
- Voter Authority Certificate (free to apply for if you don’t have other ID)
The full list of acceptable Photo ID will be printed on the back of your polling card and is also available from the Electoral Commission website.
Election Day
You must bring your photo ID to the polling station. Without it, you will not be allowed to vote in person.
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What If I Don’t Have Photo ID?
You can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC)
You will need a digital photo of yourself and your National Insurance number.
Applying only takes a few minutes but you do have to answer a load of questions asking why you don’t have a passport or other photo id first.
Unfortunately, you have now missed the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the May 2025 elections.
However, it is worth applying for a Voter Authority Certificate anyway as they last 10 years.
Independent Thinking
In May 2023, I co-founded the Ready To Vote campaign in Honiton to spread the word about the upcoming Photo ID requirements. We delivered over 2,500 leaflets to local voters and got shopkeepers to put up posters – we even got a poster in one of the Polling Stations!