Voter ID

From May 2023, you will need to show photo ID to vote in person at a polling station.

A form of free ID, the Voter Authority Certificate, will be available if you do not have accepted ID.

Here are some answers to questions you may have on how voter ID will be implemented or you can find out more at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.

If there is anything else you want to know, please ask and we will add your question and answer here.

At which elections will I be required to show photo ID?

From May, you will need to show photo ID before voting in person in local council elections in England, including Ribble Valley Borough Council elections; police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales, and in any parliamentary by-elections.

From 5 October 2023, you will need photo ID to vote in person at UK parliamentary general elections.

Which forms of ID are acceptable?

Accepted forms of ID include:

• A passport issued by the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country
• A driving licence issued by the UK, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or an EEA state
• Some concessionary travel pass, such as an Older Person’s Bus Pass or an Oyster 60+ card

You will be able to use expired photo ID if you are still recognisable from the photo. All the accepted types of ID are listed at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.

What will happen if I go to the polling station with no accepted photo ID?

If you turn up at a polling station with no accepted photo ID, you will not be issued with a ballot paper and will need to return with an accepted form of photo ID in order to vote.

What if I don’t want to show photo ID in order to vote?

If you don’t want to show photo ID at a polling station, you can apply to vote by post or proxy. Photo ID isn’t required to apply or vote by post or proxy, although your proxy will be required to show their photo ID at the polling station. For the May 2024 elections, the deadline for applying for a postal vote is 17 April 2023 and for a proxy vote is 24 April 2024.

How do I apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (free photo ID) application?

You can apply for free voter ID online at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing and posting a paper form to Ribble Valley Borough Council’s electoral services team. We are accepting applications in person and you will need to provide a photograph, your date of birth and national insurance number as part of the application. You must apply by 5pm on Tuesday April 24 to vote in the May local elections. Our electoral services team can be contacted on 01200 414411 or 01200 414426.

What information is included on the Voter Authority Certificate?

The certificate will show your full name and photograph, the name of the issuing council (in this case Ribble Valley Borough Council), an appropriate identifier (reference including numbers and letters allocated by the council), the date of issue and a recommended renewal date.

How does this impact voting by post or proxy?

You don’t need photo ID to apply or vote by post or proxy, although your proxy will be required to show their photo ID at the polling station. For the May 2024 elections, the deadline for applying for a postal vote is 17 April 2024 and for applying for a proxy vote is 24 April 2024.