From 4 May 2023 you’ll now need to show photo ID when voting in person in some UK elections or referendums. This change comes ahead of this year’s local council elections in England in May.
Elections you’ll need photo ID include:
- UK Parliament by-elections
- local elections in England (including councils, mayors, the Greater London Authority and parishes)
- recall of MP petitions in England, Scotland and Wales
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales
- neighbourhood planning referendums and Business Improvement District referendums in England
- local authority referendums in England (including Council Tax increase referendums)
You don’t need a photo ID to vote by post.
How to check if you have valid photo ID
You’ll need one of the following types of photo ID to vote:
- a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
- a driving licence issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
- a UK passport
- a passport issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
- a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- a Blue Badge
- a biometric residence permit (BRP)
- a Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
- a national identity card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
- a Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
- a Voter Authority Certificate
- an Anonymous Elector’s Document
You can also use one of the following travel passes as photo ID when you vote:
- an older person’s bus pass
- a disabled person’s bus pass
- an Oyster 60+ card
- a Freedom Pass
- a Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC)
- a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- a Northern Ireland concessionary travel pass
How to apply for a valid photo ID
If you do not have a type of photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. You’ll need to apply by 5pm on 25 April 2023.
Not registered to vote?
The deadline to register to vote in the local elections in England on 4 May 2023 is 11:59pm on Monday, 17 April.
The easiest way to register is by completing the online form on the gov.uk website. It’s simple to do and should only take around five minutes.
You will need your National Insurance number to register. If you don’t know your National Insurance number you can find advice on how to get it here. You can also apply for a National Insurance number if you’ve never had one.
Find out more about voting and eligibility here.