Tips on how to apply for voter ID and what paperwork you should use to vote in native elections

Voters heading to polling stations in England on 4 May might want to present photograph ID for the primary time. 

There are fears some folks might lose out on their proper to vote as as much as 3.5m folks haven’t got current photograph ID – and solely round 50,000 folks have utilized for voter ID.

Here’s the whole lot it’s essential to find out about what types of ID shall be acceptable and what to do if it’s essential to apply for a voter ID.

What are the foundations throughout the UK?

English voters might want to carry photograph ID to vote on 4 May on the native elections. We’ll clarify the categories accepted under.

In Northern Ireland, voters have till 5 May to use for an electoral id card, in time to vote within the native council elections there on 18 May. But voters there are used to the foundations – photograph ID has been required to vote since 2003, with ID wanted since 1985.

In Scotland, the voter ID guidelines apply from 4 May for UK parliamentary by-elections and recall petitions. From October 2023, they will even apply for normal elections.

The identical guidelines apply if you happen to’re voting abroad.

It’s the identical in Wales, with police and crime commissioner elections additionally included from 4 May onwards.

What ID can you utilize to vote?

Most types of current photograph ID shall be accepted, together with:

• UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
• driving licence issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
• UK passport
• passport issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth nation
• PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
• Blue Badge
• biometric residence allow (BRP)
• Defence Identity Card (MOD kind 90)
• nationwide id card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector’s Document

You may also use one of many following journey passes:

• older individual’s bus move
• disabled individual’s bus move
• Oyster 60+ card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC)
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Northern Ireland concessionary journey move

Voters can nonetheless use photograph ID that it’s old-fashioned, so long as it nonetheless seems to be like them and the identify is identical one used to register to vote.

If you have no photograph ID – what must you do?

If you have no of the accepted types of photograph ID, you possibly can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

It’s free and you’ll apply on-line or by put up. The deadline for purposes is 5pm on 25 April.

You will need to have already registered to vote to use for a voter ID.

To apply you have to a current photograph and your National Insurance quantity.

You can nonetheless apply if you happen to wouldn’t have a National Insurance quantity – you will simply want one other option to show your id, akin to a delivery certificates, financial institution assertion or utility invoice.

What ID do you want if you happen to’re voting as somebody’s proxy?

You’ll must take your individual ID if you happen to’re voting on another person’s behalf. You don’t must take theirs.

Can you continue to register to vote?

The deadline for registering to vote in England, for individuals who haven’t beforehand registered or have moved home, has now handed for the 4 May native elections.

The deadline was 11.59pm on 17 April.

In Northern Ireland, voters have till 11.59pm on 28 April to register for the 18 May elections there.