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What ID do I need to vote?

Check eligible ID & how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

Sarah Monro
Sarah Monro
Updated 11 April 2023

From May, voters across the UK will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. From October, this will also apply to general elections. This guide explains what forms of ID are accepted, and what to do if you don't have one. 

As Martin says: "Voting is one of the biggest consumer decisions any of us will ever make. It affects our pockets, environment, locality and quality of living. So it's important to vote, or you lose your right to whinge."

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Do I need to take ID to vote?

Previously, in England, Scotland and Wales, you didn't need to take anything with you when visiting a polling station to vote (the rules are different in Northern Ireland, where photo ID has been required since 2003). But from Thursday 4 May, voters will need to show photo ID to vote in person in these elections: 

  • Local elections (in England)
  • Police and Crime Commissioner elections (in England and Wales)
  • UK parliamentary by-elections (in England, Scotland and Wales)
  • Recall petitions (in England, Scotland and Wales)

From October 2023 this will also apply to UK general elections.

Elections are taking place in England on Thursday 4 May. The deadline to register to vote is 11.59pm on Monday 17 April.

What types of photo ID are accepted?

There are lots of forms of ID you can take with you to vote, but if you don't have any of those listed below, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate to use when voting in person at a polling station. Alternatively, you can apply to vote by post, which doesn't require photo ID.

These forms of photo ID are accepted when voting at a polling station:

  • 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)
  • Driving licence (issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state, includes provisional driving licences)
  • PASS card (identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram)
  • Biometric immigration document
  • Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
  • National identity card issued by an EEA state
  • Blue Badge
  • Older Person’s Bus Pass
  • Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
  • Oyster 60+ Card
  • Freedom Pass
  • Scottish National Entitlement Card
  • 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Senior SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
  • Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
  • War Disablement SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
  • 60+ SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
  • Half Fare SmartPass (issued in Northern Ireland)
  • Electoral Identity Card (issued in Northern Ireland)

What if my ID is out of date?

You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, but the photo needs to look like you and the name must be the same name you registered with to vote.

No ID? How to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

If you don't have a form of eligible photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate instead. If you want to use one to vote in the local elections in England on Thursday 4 May, you'll need to apply by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.

To apply for a Voter Authority Certificate:

  • You need to be registered to vote. You'll be asked for your national insurance number (but you can still register if you don't have one). It should only take five minutes and you won't need to register again for future elections, unless you move house.

  • You'll need a recent digital photo of yourself and your national insurance number. If you don't have a national insurance number you'll need to use other documents to prove your identity, such as a birth certificate, bank statement and utility bill.

  • You can apply online or by post. If you apply by post, you'll need to print a form, fill it out and send it to your local Electoral Registration Office. 

It's worth noting, you can't use the Voter Authority Certificate as proof of ID for any other reason.

Know someone without internet access? Spread the word

If someone needs a Voter Authority Certificate, but doesn't have easy access to the internet, they can contact their local council for help. They may be able to apply in person or collect a paper form.

There's also an Electoral Commission helpline they can call on 0800 328 0280 with any questions.

Registered to vote anonymously? You can apply for an Anonymous Elector's Document

When you register to vote, your name appears on the electoral register. You can register to vote anonymously if you think your name and address being on the electoral register could affect your safety, or the safety of someone in your household.

If you're registered to vote anonymously and want to vote in person, you can apply for an Anonymous Elector's Document to use as ID. The Electoral Commission says you should apply as soon as possible in case your local council need to check any details with you. 

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You DON'T need ID to vote by post or proxy

You can apply to vote by post or by proxy if you know you won't be able to get to a polling station on the day. You won't need to show ID in either case, though if you have a proxy vote, the person casting your vote will need to show their own ID.

How to apply for a postal vote

You can apply to vote by post if it's more convenient for you than visiting a polling station (you don't need to give a specific reason). Once you've registered, you'll be sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election.

To apply to vote by post in England, Scotland or Wales, you need to download, print and fill in the postal vote application form. You don't need to provide photo ID to vote by post, but there will be other identification checks, including verification of your signature and date of birth.

How to apply for a proxy vote

If you know you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is referred to as your proxy. They will need to show their own photo ID at the polling station, but won't need to show yours.

You can apply to vote by proxy either for a specific election (such as if you're going on holiday), or for the forseeable future (such as if you have a disability or work overseas).

You can also apply for an emergency proxy if you have a medical emergency, or if your photo ID is lost or stolen, and the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate has passed. Applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day.

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