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The deadline to apply for free voter ID for the local elections in England on 1 May is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April.

To vote at a polling station, you will need to bring photo ID. Find out what forms of ID will be accepted.

If you have lost your photo ID, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote up to 5pm on polling day.

Introduction

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID at some elections.

In Northern Ireland, voters have been required to show ID when voting since 1985, and photo ID since 2003.

The new requirement does not change this.

The only acceptable forms of ID in Northern Ireland are:

  • UK, Irish or EEA driving licence (photo part) (provisional accepted)
  • UK, Irish or EU passport (incl. Irish Passport Card) (EU passports are not accepted at UK Parliamentary elections)
  • Translink Half Fare SmartPass
  • Translink Senior SmartPass
  • Translink 60+ SmartPass
  • Translink War Disablement SmartPass
  • Translink Registered Blind SmartPass
  • Biometric Immigration Document OR
  • Electoral Identity Card

The last option - the Electoral Identity Card - is solely for electors who have not got one of the other means (see list above) of photographic voter identification.

The ID can be expired, but staff at the polling station must be satisfied that you are the person in the photograph on the ID.

Find out more about what photo ID is accepted and how to apply for an Electoral Identity Card on the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website.

Voter ID requirement

Voters in England need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in all elections.

This includes:

  • UK parliamentary elections, including general elections, by-elections and recall petitions
  • Local elections and by-elections
  • Police and Crime Commissioner elections

Find out more about accepted forms of photo ID, how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, and what to expect on polling day.

Voter ID requirement

Voters in Wales need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.

This applies to:

  • UK parliamentary elections, including general elections, by-elections and recall petitions
  • Police and Crime Commissioner elections

Find out more about accepted forms of photo ID, how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, and what to expect on polling day.

Voters in Wales will not need to show photo ID to vote at a polling station at Senedd elections or local council elections.

Voter ID requirement

Voters in Scotland need to show photo ID to vote at polling places in some elections.

This applies to UK parliamentary elections, including general elections, by-elections and recall petitions. 

Find out more about accepted forms of photo ID, how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, and what to expect on polling day.

Voters in Scotland will not need to show photo ID at Scottish Parliament elections or at council elections.

Voter ID requirement

Overseas voters in the UK on polling day need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations.

This applies to UK parliamentary elections, including general elections, by-elections and recall petitions.

Find out more about accepted forms of photo ID, how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, and what to expect on polling day.

Don’t have ID? Apply for free voter ID now

If you don't have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

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