Photo ID required to vote in May 2023

From 4 May 2023, voters in England will 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

From October 2023 it will also apply to UK General elections.

If you don't have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

Accepted forms of ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website.  

Ruth Dennis, Director of Legal and Governance and Returning Officer at Ashfield District Council said:

“For future elections residents will need to take photo ID with them to polling stations to be able to vote. Ashfield District Council will provide as much support as possible to ensure that every resident who wants to vote in elections on 4 May is able to do so as easily as possible. From now until the elections, the Council will be publicising the new voter ID requirements and how residents can get a Voter Authority Certificate if they don’t have eligible photo ID. Residents can find out about eligible photo ID or apply online for their free Voter Authority Certificate using the government’s online portal or they can apply by post.”

The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the local elections in England on 4 May 2023 is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

You need to be registered to vote before you apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

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. 

You can find more detail and ways to apply on the Electoral Commission website and on the Council website.