Since May 2023, UK voters have had to show a government-accepted form of photo ID at polling stations to vote in person at most elections. The voting ID rule was introduced in April 2022 through the Elections Act 2022, which brought in voter identification in the UK for the first time. The government claimed that new rules were needed to prevent votes from being stolen or fraudulent, even though the UK has never had a significant problem with voter fraud.

Knowing what documents you’ll need to bring to the polling station can be confusing at the best of times, so we’ve broken down the big questions around voter ID so that you feel prepared to cast your vote.

What are the voter ID rules?

Not all elections or voting methods will require you to show identification. The rules apply to:

All local elections in England
Mayoral elections, as well as the London Assembly
All by-elections and referendums in England
Police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales
General elections

You won’t need to present your ID if you’re voting by post or if you’re voting in local elections in Scotland and Wales or voting for the Scottish or Welsh parliament.

What can I use as a photo ID?

The Electoral Commission lists 22 acceptable forms of identification, including:

Passport
Driving licence
Local travel passes for disabled and older people (60+)
Biometric immigration document

The ID has to be the original and not a photocopy but you can use an out-of-date version as long as you look the same in your photo.

What happens if I don’t have a valid form of photo ID?

Anyone registered to vote without an accepted form of identification can apply for a free document known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You don’t need this certificate if you’re voting by post, only if you’re planning on casting your vote in person.

The application is online (or by post) and when applying for a Voter Authority Certificate, you will need to provide your: name, address, date of birth and national insurance number. You’ll also need to submit a photo to obtain a certificate. There’s more information on the Electoral Commission’s website but the requirements for the photo are similar to what you’d need for a passport photo.

The deadline to apply for free voter ID for the elections on Thursday 2 May is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

Everything you need to know about voter ID this election year