Voter ID in polling stations

Voter ID in polling stations

Under the Elections Act 2022, all voters need to show an accepted form of photographic ID to vote in person at a polling station.

Voter ID has been introduced at elections by the UK government to make polling station voting more secure and to reduce the risk of voter fraud through personation.

If you vote by post, you do not need to provide ID unless you have lost or spoilt your postal vote and need us to issue you with a new one.

What identification you need to bring

The UK government have decided on the list of acceptable photo ID. Expired ID will be permitted if the photograph still looks like you. 

Acceptable forms of ID include: 

• Passport issued by the United Kingdom, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish passport)
• Photocard driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
• Blue Badge
• Older Person's Bus Pass
• Disabled Person's Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card
• 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
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric immigration document issued in the United Kingdom
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland; 
• Voter Authority Certificate or a temporary Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector Document

We cannot accept:

• University, college, school or workplace ID cards
• Photocopies
• Photos of documents presented on a smartphone

If you don't have an acceptable form of photographic ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

Voter Authority Certificate

A Voter Authority Certificate is a free photographic identification document which can be used to vote in person at a polling station. A Voter Authority Certificate cannot be used as proof of identification for any other reason.

To apply for Voter Authority Certificate, you'll need to provide all of the following:

• a recent, digital photo of yourself
• the address where you are registered to vote
• your National Insurance number if you have one

The quickest way to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is online. You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate:

• Online via gov.uk
• In person at Gosport Town Hall with a member of the Electoral Services team
• By post - you can download a paper application form here or we can send a paper form to you. You must enclose a photograph with your paper application form. Please write your name and postcode on the back of your photograph.  Do not stick your photograph to the form. Send your completed form and photograph to Electoral Services, Gosport Borough Council, Town Hall, High Street, Gosport, PO12 1EB. 

Your Voter Authority Certificate will be valid for as long as you still look like the photo on your certificate. You can continue to use it if you move to another area.

If you've recently changed your name

Your name on the electoral register should match the name on your ID. If you have recently changed your name, you can present your name change document alongside your photo ID to vote at the polling station.  The name change document must show a link between your name on the register and your name on your photo ID.

Acceptable name change documents could include a:

• deed poll
• marriage certificate
• civil partnership certificate
• decree absolute
• gender recognition certificate with a date of birth matching your photo ID

Alternative spellings or shortened versions of names (for example, Elizabeth and Liz) should be acceptable. This will be at the discretion of the Presiding Officer at the polling station, who must be satisfied that the ID you provide is acceptable. 

If you need to amend your name on the electoral register, contact Electoral Services as soon as possible.

What will happen in the polling station on election day?

Your poll card will advise you which polling station you should attend to cast your vote and will include a reminder that you need to take ID with you.

Polling station staff will check your ID and may need to make a note of the type of ID being used. No details will be taken from the ID you use. You should anticipate the process of receiving your ballot paper taking a little longer than usual and the possibility of short queues forming at busy times.

Which countries are in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), the Commonwealth and the Channel Islands?

Please view the links below to see the list of countries in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), the Commonwealth and the Channel Islands.

Countries in the EU and EEA (opens in a new window)

Member countries | Commonwealth - (opens in a new window)

Channel Islands profile- (opens in a new window)