Guidance for (Acting) Returning Officers administering a UK Parliamentary election in Great Britain

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Ballot paper refusal list and voter identification evaluation form

You must provide each polling station with documents that capture information relating to the voter identification requirements.

  • Ballot paper refusal list (BPRL) 
  • Voter ID evaluation form (VIDEF)
  • VIDEF notes sheet

​​​​The BPRL and VIDEF notes sheet are used throughout the day to capture and record information in relation to the voter ID requirement:

DocumentInformation collected
BPRL

Number of ballot papers refused on grounds of:

  • the photographic ID was not a good likeness
  • the PO believed the photographic ID was a forgery
  • the elector failed to answer the prescribed questions satisfactorily

The BPRL would be updated if an elector later returns with an acceptable form of photographic ID

VIDEF notes sheet
  • Number of Voter Authority Certificates used by electors (or proxies) as their acceptable photographic ID
  • Number of Elector's Documents used by anonymous electors as their acceptable photographic ID
  • Number of electors whose photographic ID  was checked in private
  • Number of electors who were not issued with a ballot paper and the number of these electors who later returned and were issued with a ballot paper

At the close of poll the PO will complete the VIDEF with the information from the BPRL and VIDEF notes sheet.

BPRL (Ballot paper refusal list) (DOCX)
Voter identification notes and VIDEF (Generic) (DOCX)

The polling station handbook provides further information how to complete these forms.

Polling Station Handbook UKPGE 2024 (PDF)
Last updated: 20 May 2025