What photograph ID you’ll want to take with you to vote in 2024 native elections
It’s not long until the polling stations open for the 2024 local elections – being aware of what you need to take with you is important.
Elections are taking place in 107 local authorities across England on Wednesday, May 2, with more than 2,600 seats up for grabs. The Mayor of London, London Assembly members and 10 mayors outside the capital will be selected too and a total of 37 police and crime commissioners ( PCCs) will be elected across England and Wales, plus there will be a by-election to select a new MP for Blackpool South. Many results will emerge overnight into Friday, May 3 and more will follow throughout the day with a few announced over the weekend.
If you are a British citizen, Irish and EU citizen, or eligible Commonwealth citizen you can vote if you are 18 or over and have registered to vote in your area. You will be required to show photograph identification to vote in the May 2 elections. Anyone without the correct form of photo ID who wants to take part in local, mayoral and police commissioner elections has only a few hours left to apply for a special certificate.
Only certain kinds of ID will be accepted at polling stations. Voters without the correct ID will be turned away.
You can use a 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 – including an Irish Passport Card. Driving licences and provisional driving licences are also accepted as well as a Blue Badge.
Alternatively you can show an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram, a biometric immigration document, Ministry of Defence Form 90, national identity card issued by an EEA state, Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland, Voter Authority Certificate, or an anonymous Elector’s Document.
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Local travel cards including bus passes and Oyster cards will also be accepted. All forms of local travel ID which will be accepted include:
- Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
- 60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London
- Freedom Pass
- Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass)
- 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
If your ID is out of date
The Electoral Commission states that you can still use your photo ID if it’s out of date, as long as it looks like you, plus the name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
If you don’t have an accepted form of ID
You can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply if you don’t have an accepted form of ID, you’re unsure if your ID still looks like you, or you’re worried about using an existing form of ID for another reason.
For more information on how to apply for this see The Electoral Commission website.
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