Photo ID and voting in person
Most people choose to go to a polling station to vote in person.
About a month before election day you will get a poll card in the post. This will tell you what the election is for and where your polling station is located.
When you go to the polling station you will be asked to confirm your name and address and be asked to show suitable photographic identification before being given a ballot paper to vote.
The following documents, including expired versions, will be accepted as long as the photo is a good enough likeness:
- A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, a European Economic Area (EEA) state or a Commonwealth country
- Photographic drivers licence (full or provisional) issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
- EEA photographic ID card
- UK Biometric Residence Permit
- An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (PASS card)
- A blue badge
- Oyster 60+ card
- A concessionary travel pass funded by HM Government or local authority, such as Oxfordshire County Council Bus pass, disabled persons bus pass, Welsh or Northern Ireland travel card
The full list of accepted photographic IDs is available via gov.uk.
You must take the original document with you to the polling station, a scanned version, electronic version or a copy will not be accepted.
The staff in the station will give you a ballot paper and you can cast your vote in secret.
If you take your poll card with you it will make the process a bit quicker but don’t worry if you forget it, you will still be able to vote.
If you have no form of acceptable photo ID
If you usually vote in person in a polling station and you don’t have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free photo ID document, specifically for the purposes of voting.
You can now apply for a Voter Authority Certificate via the Government's website, and applications can be made online or via a paper application form. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate will be 5pm, 6 working days before polling day.
Voters who do not show permitted photo ID or a Voter Authority Certificate will not be allowed to vote on polling day.