Voter photo ID at elections
What identification you will need to vote in person at polling stations on election day.
You will not be required to provide photo ID if you vote by post.
Accepted forms of photographic ID
To vote at a polling station, you must present one of the following:
- Passport issued by the UK, any Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, A British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
- Driving licence issued by the UK, any Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state
- Biometric immigration document
- Identity card bearing Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- Blue Badge
- National Identity Card issued by an EEA state
- Older Person's Bus Pass
- Disabled Person's Bus Pass
- Oyster 60+ Card
- Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
- 60 or Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Senior SmartPass or Blind Person's SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Island
- Electoral Identify card issued in Northern Ireland
- Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) or a temporary VAC
If your photographic identity has expired, it will still be accepted if the photograph is still a good likeness of you.
You may be required to provide further proof of identity if there is a discrepancy between your name shown on the form of identity and the name you claim to be.
Apply for free photo ID for voting
If you do not have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, you will be able to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) in person, by post or online.
Voter identification statistics
The data below shows statistics from recent local elections for the number of people eligible to vote at a polling station, not issued with a ballot paper because they did not meet the new voter ID requirements and those that returned with acceptable ID and were able to vote.
Thursday 4 July 2024 - Parliamentary General Election
116 - The total number of polling station electors who applied for, but at least initially were not issued with, a ballot paper.
97 - The total number of polling station electors who were not issued with a ballot paper and who later returned with accepted ID and were issued with a ballot paper.
19 - The total number of polling station electors who applied for but were not issued with a ballot paper by close of poll.
65,784 - The total number of electors who were eligible to vote in person at the polling stations.
43,022 - The total number of voters issued with a ballot paper at polling stations.
Parliamentary General Election - North West Essex constituency - Thursday 4 July 2024
Thursday 2 May 2024 - Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election for Essex
83 - The total number of polling station electors who applied for, but at least initially were not issued with, a ballot paper.
56 - The total number of polling station electors who were not issued with a ballot paper and who later returned with accepted ID and were issued with a ballot paper.
27 - The total number of polling station electors who applied for but were not issued with a ballot paper by close of poll.
59,718 - The total number of electors who were eligible to vote in person at the polling stations.
8,458 - The total number of voters issued with a ballot paper at polling stations.