Voter ID - Guide to Elections for the May 2026 local elections

Supporting people with the voter ID requirement

In the UK voters are legally required to show photo identification (ID) when voting at a polling station at some elections, this includes the elections happening in England on 7 May 2026 

This requirement also applies to UK Parliament general elections, by-elections and recall petitions, local elections in England, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.

It does not apply at Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, or council elections taking place in Scotland or Wales.

Download our resources

Organisations working directly with voters, including local authorities and charities, can play an important role in supporting voters to ensure they have photo ID ahead of any election when the requirement applies.

We have created a range of resources to support people to register to vote, identify which forms of photo ID are accepted when voting, and to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if needed. This pack includes information tailored to the needs of groups we know are more likely to experience barriers in meeting this requirement and who may need support to access photo ID.

We have also published resources tailored to the needs of people who are registered to vote anonymously, or who might benefit from doing so, such as domestic violence survivors. 

Guide to Elections

An image of a building with text reading 'Guide to elections'.

Download the Guide to Elections

Our Guide to Elections provides the key information voters need to be able to vote, including information on the voter ID requirement.

The guide contains information on:

  • Registering to vote, including how to register without a fixed address
  • The voter ID requirement
    • Which elections require photo ID
    • Accepted forms of ID
    • Applying for a Voter Authority Certificate
  • What to expect at the polling station
  • Other ways to vote; voting by post or proxy

Information is also available in the following accessible formats:

You can also watch the BSL Guide to Voter ID on our YouTube channel