Voter ID

Voters in England need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.

This will apply to:

• Local elections
• Police and Crime Commissioner elections
• UK parliamentary by-elections
• Recall petitions

Accepted forms of photo ID

You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.

You can still use your photo ID if it’s out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.

You can use any of the following:

• Passport
• Driving licence (including provisional license)
• Blue badge
• Certain concessionary travel cards
• Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
• Biometric Immigration document
• Defence identity card
• Certain national identity cards

Find a full list on the Electoral Commission website.

If you don’t have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a voter authority certificate.

Apply for a voter authority certificate

You need to be registered to vote before you apply.

When you register to vote, you’ll be asked whether you have photo ID or if you want to apply for a voter authority certificate.

The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate will be 5pm 6 working days before the date of the election.