On Thursday 4th May 2023 local elections will be held up and down the country. For the first time, registered voters will now need to bring a suitable form of ID with them to the ballot in order to cast their vote. Today is the final day for people to apply for an accepted form ID, if they do not have one already.
Gradually, this policy will be implemented for General Elections. This change marks a divorcing from the current system in most of the UK, where voters need only verbally confirm their name and address in order to cast a ballot.
However, this change will make no difference to voters in Northern Ireland, who have been required to show photographic ID since 2003.
Free voter ID
You can apply for a free voter ID card by post or online. The deadline for online applications is today at 5pm. To complete an online application, you will need a recent digital photo of yourself and your National Insurance (NI) number. If you do not have your NI number, you will need another form of identity such as your birth certificate or a bank statement.
To apply by post, you will need to fill out and send a form to your local electoral registration office. The electoral registration office must receive your form by 5pm, six working days before the election you wish to vote in.
What other types of ID are accepted?
Apart from the free voter ID, other forms of ID are accepted such as passports issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country. Full or provisional driving licenses issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state are also accepted.
Moreover, travel passes such as 60+ Oyster Cards and Freedom Passes can be used.
The full list of qualifying ID types can be found here.