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What photo ID do you need to vote in UK elections? What photo ID do you need to vote in UK elections?
(7 days later)
People in England will need to show photo ID before being allowed to vote at the local elections on 4 May.People in England will need to show photo ID before being allowed to vote at the local elections on 4 May.
The government said the new law will help prevent voter fraud but critics claim the changes will make it harder for some to vote. The government says the new law will help prevent voter fraud but critics claim the changes will make it harder for some to vote.
What are the new voter ID rules?What are the new voter ID rules?
Voters need to take photo ID to get their ballot paper in polling stations at local elections, police and crime commissioner elections, and parliamentary by-elections. Voters will need to show photo ID to get their ballot paper in polling stations at local elections, police and crime commissioner elections, and parliamentary by-elections.
From October it will also apply to any general elections that are held in the future. From October the requirements will also apply to any future general elections.
You don't need to show ID if voting by post.You don't need to show ID if voting by post.
How do I register to vote and what is the deadline?
Can I take a selfie at a polling station?
Why do I need ID to vote?Why do I need ID to vote?
The government said the measure is to stop votes being stolen, although this is quite unusual in the UK. The government said the measure would stop votes being stolen, although this is quite unusual in the UK.
Police investigated 315 cases of alleged voter fraud during local and parliamentary elections held in England, Wales and Scotland in May 2021, according to the Electoral Commission. A caution was issued in one case. Since 2018, there have been 1,386 cases of alleged electoral fraud reported to the police, according to the Electoral Commission. These led to nine convictions and six police cautions.
The commission said in the past five years there had been "no evidence of large-scale electoral fraud", though some Conservative MPs claim the statistics underplay the issue. The commission said in the past five years there had been "no evidence of large-scale electoral fraud", although some Conservative MPs claim the statistics underplay the issue.
What documents can you show as photo ID?What documents can you show as photo ID?
There are 22 forms of accepted ID. The main ones are: There are 22 forms of accepted ID including:
Passport issued by the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, a European Economic Area (EEA) state or a Commonwealth country passports
Provisional or full driving licence issued by the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state driving licences
Others include: Older or Disabled Person's bus passes
A Blue Badge Oyster 60+ cards
Older or Disabled Person's Bus Pass funded by the UK government
Oyster 60+ Card funded by the UK government
Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
What if I don't have an acceptable form of ID?What if I don't have an acceptable form of ID?
You could exchange a paper driving licence for a photocard or apply for a photocard travel pass if you're aged 60 or over, disabled, or registered blind or partially sighted. You could exchange a paper driving licence for a photocard or apply for a photocard travel pass if you're aged 60 or over, disabled, or registered blind or partially-sighted.
But if you don't have the right photo ID, or the picture doesn't look like you anymore, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.But if you don't have the right photo ID, or the picture doesn't look like you anymore, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
You'll need to provide your name, date of birth, address, and a recent passport-style digital photograph. You need to provide your name, date of birth, address, and a recent passport-style digital photograph.
You'll also be asked for your National Insurance number but if you don't know it, or don't have one, a birth certificate, bank statement or utility bill will do. You will also be asked for your National Insurance number but if you don't know it, or don't have one, a birth certificate, bank statement or utility bill will do.
How do I apply for a voter ID document?How do I apply for a voter ID document?
First you need to register to vote. You can do that online or by filling in a paper form and the deadline is 23:59 GMT on Monday 17 April.First you need to register to vote. You can do that online or by filling in a paper form and the deadline is 23:59 GMT on Monday 17 April.
You can then apply for a voter ID document online or by post. The deadline to apply is 17:00 GMT on Tuesday 25 April 2023. You can then apply for a voter ID document online or by post. The deadline is 17:00 GMT on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
Why has voter ID been criticised?Why has voter ID been criticised?
The plan was put forward by the Conservative-led government to "protect the integrity of the ballot box".The plan was put forward by the Conservative-led government to "protect the integrity of the ballot box".
Although most people have some form of accepted photo ID, an estimated 2m people don't, and opposition MPs believe the changes will make it more difficult for them to vote. Although most people have some form of accepted photo ID, an estimated two million people don't, and opposition MPs believe the changes will make it more difficult for them to vote.
The Electoral Commission said it creates a barrier to those who vote anonymously and people who are disabled, older, experiencing homelessness, trans or non-binary, or from Gypsy, Roma or Traveller backgrounds. The Electoral Commission warned the new rules risk creating a barrier to those who vote anonymously and people who are disabled, older, experiencing homelessness, trans or non-binary, or from Gypsy, Roma or Traveller backgrounds.
And the Electoral Reform Society suggested younger voters might be disproportionately affected - highlighting that older people can use bus passes and 60+ Oyster cards as ID but young people can't use railcards or student Oyster cards. The Electoral Reform Society has suggested younger voters might be disproportionately affected - highlighting that older people can use bus passes and 60+ Oyster cards as ID but young people can't use their railcards or student Oyster cards.
Government figures show only 64,069 people had applied for a Voter Authority Certificate by 15 April.
The Local Government Association (LGA) - which represents local authorities - also says the practical difficulties faced by councils enforcing ID checks on polling day "should not be underestimated".
Voter ID could overwhelm staff, councils warn
Has voter ID been trialled before?Has voter ID been trialled before?
In England, it was trialled at the 2018 and 2019 local elections.In England, it was trialled at the 2018 and 2019 local elections.
In both years, participating councils required voters to bring a form of identification. The Electoral Commission said many of the people who were refused a ballot for not having ID did return with it later and the number of those that didn't was fairly small. In both years, participating councils required voters to bring a form of identification.
The Electoral Commission said many of the people who were initially refused a ballot for not having ID did return with it later, and the number of those that didn't was fairly small.
Photo ID has been mandatory in Northern Ireland since 2003 due to in-person electoral fraud. A free electoral ID card was created.Photo ID has been mandatory in Northern Ireland since 2003 due to in-person electoral fraud. A free electoral ID card was created.
Most European countries require residents to have national ID regardless, meaning no groups of people are discriminated against at the polls. Most European countries require all residents to have national ID in any case.
In the US, 35 states require some form of ID to vote but only about half of those specify it must be photo ID.In the US, 35 states require some form of ID to vote but only about half of those specify it must be photo ID.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Electoral CommissionElectoral Commission
England local elections 2023England local elections 2023
Local government