Bring ID to vote
Individuals who wish to vote in person, including those acting as a proxy on behalf of another individual, are required to produce an accepted form of photographic ID to prove their identity before they will be issued with a ballot paper.
This applies at:
- UK parliamentary General Elections and by-elections
- Recall petitions
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
- Local government elections in England
Some of the accepted forms of photographic ID are:
- a passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country
- a driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
- a biometric immigration document
- an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
- a Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- a Blue Badge
- a national identity card issued by an EEA state
- an Older Person’s Bus Pass
- a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
- an Oyster 60+ Card
- a Freedom Pass
See the full list of photo ID accepted at GOV.UK
Only original documents are accepted; scanned images or copies will not be accepted however expired documents are accepted if the photo is still a current likeness.
No suitable photo ID?
If you do not have any of the accepted photo ID, and you want to vote at a polling station, you will need to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free photographic identification document specific for the purposes of voting.
The application process is now open
Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificate, or valid identification will not be allowed to vote on the day.
Postal and proxy voters
Postal voters are not affected and will be issued with their postal ballot papers as usual. If you choose to vote by proxy then the person who you have trusted to vote on your behalf will have to take their own identification to be issued with a ballot paper.