All voters are required to show photographic identification (photo ID) at polling stations before they are given a ballot paper. You are not required to provide photo ID for postal voting.
Acceptable forms of photo ID include:
- 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 licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state
You will only need to show one form of photo ID and it needs to be the original version and not a photocopy. You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you and the name on your ID is the same name you used to register to vote. A full list of acceptable forms of photo ID can be found here.
If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate but remember, you need to register to vote before applying for a Voter Authority Certificate.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the May elections is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
Alternatively the National Union of Students has partnered with CitizenCard to offer a free voter ID card to all students by using the code ‘NUS’. To claim your free card, you can visit the CitizenCard website: Claim your FREE VOTER ID - Use code 'NUS'.