Voter ID
The UK Government now requires voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This new requirement will apply to all voters who vote in person or by proxy, at the next local election on Thursday May 4 2023.
To vote in person, you must be on the electoral register and bring a suitable form of photographic ID to your polling station.
Which forms of ID can I use to vote?
You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:
- Passport
- Driving licence (including provisional license)
- Blue badge
- Certain concessionary travel cards
- Identity card with PASS mark
- Biometric immigration document
- Defence identity card
- Certain national identity cards
Expired photographic identification will also be accepted if the photograph is of a good enough likeness to allow polling station staff to confirm the identity of the holder.
The full list of photo ID accepted at GOV.UK
No suitable photo ID?
If you don't have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, and you want to vote at a polling station, you will need to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free photographic identification document specifically for the purposes of voting. Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificate or valid identification will not be allowed to vote on polling day.
Apply online
You can apply for your Voter Authority Certificate online via the Government's Voter ID application webpage
Apply by post
You can also apply using a paper form which should be sent to Copeland Borough Council. Download a copy from the Government's postal application webpage
Information you will need to provide:
When applying for a Voter Authority Certificate, you will need to provide your:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- National Insurance number (found on payslips or official letters about tax, pensions or benefits)
- A recent photograph
You should apply using the same name that you used to register to vote.
You can still apply if you don’t know your National Insurance number, or don’t have one. You will need to provide other forms of proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, bank statement and a utility bill.
Postal and Proxy voting
Postal voters will not need to provide photo ID and will be issued with postal ballot papers as usual. If you choose to vote by proxy, the person you have trusted to vote on your behalf will have to take their own identification in order to be issued with a ballot paper.
If you wish to vote by post in future elections, including the May 4 2023 elections, you can apply by downloading an application form from the Electoral Commission's website. (link is external) The deadline, if you wish to vote in the May elections, is 5pm on Tuesday, April 18 2023.
If you wish vote by proxy in future elections, including the May 4 2023 elections, you can apply by downloading an application form from the Electoral Commission's website.(link is external) The deadline, if you wish to vote in the May elections, is 5pm on Tuesday, April 25 2023.
