7 February 2023The government has introduced a new requirement that voters will have to show an accepted form of photo ID to vote in a polling station. This requirement will apply for the first time at the local elections taking place in 230 areas of England 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.
Voters in Wales will need to show ID at Police and Crime Commissioner elections and at recall petitions. They will not need to show photo ID to vote at a polling station at Senedd elections or local council elections.
If voters don’t have accepted photo ID, they can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
