On Thursday 4 May 2023, elections were held for borough and parish/town council. These elections were the first held where it was necessary for polling station voters to present photographic ID.
The number of voters who attended a polling station on Thursday 4 May without suitable ID in the first instance was 49. Of those, 22 later returned and voted.
Accepted forms of photo ID
You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.
International travel
- 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 and Parking
- driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
- a Blue Badge
Local travel
- 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
Proof of age
- identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
Other government issued documents
- Biometric immigration document
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
- Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
- Voter Authority Certificate
- Anonymous Elector's Document
You only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.
Out of date photo ID
You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you.
The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
Showing ID as an anonymous elector
If you're registered to vote anonymously and want to vote in person, you'll need to apply for an Anonymous Elector's Document on the Electoral Commission website.
Find out more about registering to vote anonymously and how to vote anonymously from the Electoral Commission.