Voter ID

The Elections Act 2022, passed by the UK Parliament in April 2022, made several changes to the UK electoral system, including new legislation requiring voters to show photo ID at polling stations. Postal voters will not be affected by the legislation and will be issued with their postal ballot papers as usual. Voter ID only applies to electors voting in person at a polling station.

If you wish to vote in person at your polling station, including if you are acting as a proxy on behalf of another person, you will need to present an accepted form of physical photo ID to prove your identity. The photo on your ID must look like you, and it must be the original version and not a photocopy. You can still use your ID even if it has expired, as long as the photo still looks like you.

You must be registered to vote before an election.

You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:

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

You can find the current list of accepted photo IDs that you can use to vote.

The name on your ID must match your name on the electoral register. If it does not, you’ll need to either:

• Register to vote again with your new details, or
• take a second document with you when you go to vote that proves you’ve changed your name; for example, a marriage certificate, alongside your photo ID

If you don’t have, or don’t wish to use, one of the accepted forms of photo ID listed above, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC).

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate here. 

This document is free of charge and contains your name and photograph. 

You cannot use a Voter Authority Certificate as proof of identity for any purpose other than for voting.