Voter ID Requirement – Elections 2023

At the 4 May 2023 Town and Borough Council Elections, all electors voting in a polling station will need to show photo identification (ID) before they can vote. This is happening in Halewood, and across all elections in England and Wales.

Voters will need to show one of the photo IDs from the list below. Without showing one of these a voter won’t be issued a ballot paper for this election. Only ID from the list will be accepted, expired photo ID can still be used if the photo remains a good likeness of the voter. But it needs to be the original version and not a photocopy or scanned image on mobile devices.

If you or someone you know doesn’t have one of the accepted ID available to use, then you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate to use as your photo ID at the election instead. The requirement to have photographic ID only affects people voting in person at a polling station. It does not affect postal voters who have their identification verified by their signatures and date of births.

 

List of photo IDs you can use

When you go to vote on 4 May you’ll need to bring one type of photo ID to the polling station.

  • UK passport
  • Passport for a Commonwealth country or a European Economic Area (EEA) stateEligible Commonwealth or European country  
  • Photocard driving licence (including a provisional licence)
  • Photocard driving license from Channel Islands, Isle of Man or EEA state
  • Proof of Age (PASS) Card
  • Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card – MOD90)
  • Blue Badge scheme photocard parking permit
  • Electoral Identity Card: Northern Ireland
  • EEA state national identity card which bears a photograph of the voter
  • Biometric immigration document issued in the United Kingdom.
  • an Older Person’s Bus Pass
  • a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
  • an Oyster 60+ Card
  • a Freedom Pass
  • a Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
  • a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
  • a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
  • a Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • a Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • a War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • a 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • a Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • an Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
  • Voter Authority Certificate (for those without other photo ID) – Find out more via Knowsley MBC Elections Team at: Knowsley MBC Elections Information
  • Anonymous Elector Document – Contact the Elections Team for more information.

FAQs

What happens on polling day 4 May 2023?

Elections will take place as usual. Your poll card will advise you which polling station you should go to cast your vote, on polling day, between 7am and 10pm.

Because of the need to check ID, you should anticipate the process of receiving your ballot paper taking a little longer than usual and the possibility of short queues forming at busy times.

No details will be taken from the ID you use.

A reminder that voting will only take place for the borough and town council wards which are contested where there are more candidates standing than the number of available seats. However, it is our expectation that the borough and town council elections in Halewood will have multiple candidates and therefore be highly competitive.

What if I don’t have any of the photo IDs listed?

The Voter Authority Certificate is a new free voter photo document. Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if:

  • you do not have accepted photo ID
  • you no longer look like the photo on your ID
  • the name on your photo ID is significantly different to your name on the electoral register

The Certificate will show an elector’s name and photograph, the date of issue, the issuing local authority, an appropriate identifier, and a recommended renewal date of 10 years from issue.

There is an application to complete, and you will need to provide a recent photo of yourself as part of the application. You must apply by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023 but it is advised to apply as soon as possible.

Can I show a copy of my ID on my phone or other electronic device?

No, only original documents will be accepted; scanned images or copies will not be accepted.

Can I bring a photocopy of my ID?

No, only original documents will be accepted; scanned images or copies will not be accepted.

What about postal voters?

If you choose to vote by post nothing will change. Voter ID has no impact on postal voting, only voting at polling stations. You won’t need to present any ID as your identification is verified by your signature and date of birth.

You can apply for a postal vote by downloading a form online at the link below to Knowsley MBC. This also contains other information of relevance for the forthcoming election. The deadline to submit a completed form is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April 2023. You won’t need to present any ID as your identification is verified by your signature and date of birth.