Voter ID requirement at May elections
The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.
This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.
Which forms of ID can I use to vote?
You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:
- Passport
- Driving licence (including provisional license)
- Blue badge
- Certain concessionary travel cards
- Identity card with PASS mark
- Biometric Immigration document
- Defence identity card
- Certain national identity cards
Voter Authority Certificate
If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the elections taking place in May will be 5pm on Tuesday 25 April. Apply at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk.
Find out more
For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted and to find answers to other common questions, visit our Voter ID web pages.