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The Guardian World1 min read
What photo ID will you need to vote in the May elections?
TL;DR
Voters in England must present valid photo ID to vote in the local elections on May 7. In contrast, no ID is required for voters in Scotland and Wales for their respective elections on the same day.
Key points
- Voters in England must show valid photo ID on May 7
- Scotland and Wales do not require ID for their elections
- Over 20 forms of ID are accepted in England
- Out-of-date photo ID is allowed if the voter looks the same
Everyone voting in person in the local elections in England on 7 May will have to show valid photo ID.
However, people in Scotland and Wales will not need to show ID to vote in the Scottish Parliament or Senedd elections being held on the same day.
More than 20 forms of ID will be accepted, including:
- passports
- driving licences
- older or Disabled Person's bus passes
- Oyster 60+ cards
- Armed Forces Veteran Cards
You can use out-of-date photo ID as long as you look the same.
If you wear a face covering, such as a medical mask or a veil worn on religious grounds, you will be asked to remove it briefly so polling station staff can check that your ID looks like you.
The government has said that voters will also be able to prove their ID with a UK-issued bank card showing their name at the next general election. The election must be held by 2029 but could be earlier.
Voters in England whose ID is lost or stolen can apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 17:00 on polling day.
Both they and their proxy - the person nominated to vote on their behalf - must already be registered to vote. The proxy must have correct ID.
For future elections, you can exchange a paper driving licence for a photocard, or apply for a photocard travel pass if you are aged 60 or over, disabled or registered blind or partially sighted.
Alternatively, anyone registered to vote without the correct ID - or who no longer looks like their photo - can apply for a free document known as a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline to apply for a certificate to use on 7 May has passed.
If you go to the polling station without the correct ID, you will be asked to come back with valid documentation.
If you think your ID has been wrongly rejected, the Electoral Commission - which oversees UK elections - says you should notify the presiding officer at the polling station.
If this does not resolve the issue, you can raise your concerns with your council's returning officer.
Polling station staff record how many voters are turned away, as well as the number who return with valid ID.
Q&A
What types of photo ID are accepted for voting in England?
Accepted forms of photo ID in England include passports, driving licences, older or Disabled Person's bus passes, Oyster 60+ cards, and Armed Forces Veteran Cards.
Do voters in Scotland need photo ID for the elections on May 7?
No, voters in Scotland do not need to show photo ID to vote in the Scottish Parliament elections on May 7.
Is it possible to use out-of-date photo ID for voting in England?
Yes, you can use out-of-date photo ID as long as you look the same as in the photo.
Will voters in Wales need to show ID for the Senedd elections?
No, voters in Wales will not need to show ID to vote in the Senedd elections on May 7.
