In 2022, regulations were introduced that made it compulsory for voters to prove their identity. The new rules apply to by-elections and general elections for the UK parliament and local elections in England. Voters must show photo ID before being issued a ballot paper in polling stations. The rules don’t apply to elections for the Scottish Parliament or in Scottish local authority elections.
If you want to vote in the next general election, you must be able to produce photo ID at your polling station, have a Voter Authority Certificate or have registered to have a postal vote. It will be the first general election in UK history at which voters must prove who they are when attending the polling station in person.
Controversy surrounds the move, with the biggest cause for concern being that the rules about accepted forms of ID tend to disadvantage younger people. Forms of identity that can only be held by older people, or are more likely to be held by them, dominate the list.
Do you need to register to vote?
If you want to vote at the general election (and Bylines Scotland says please do), first make sure you have registered to vote where you live. You can do that by going to the UK Electoral Commission website. If you prefer, you can register to vote on your local council website. If the page you need is not obvious, use search words like elections, voting and democracy.
When you register to vote you’ll be asked if you have an approved form of photo ID, or if you wish to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC). A VAC is an accepted form of identity. You can find out about VACs and how to apply by visiting the Electoral Commission website above.
What is a postal vote?
Having a postal vote means that when an election is announced the voting paper you need is sent to your home. At home, you vote for your preferred candidate and send the paper back to your council in a secure prepaid envelope. The envelope will only be opened after the polls have closed on the day of the election and will be counted in the same place at the same time as votes cast at polling stations. There are very strict rules around the storing and counting of postal votes.
Once you have been approved for a postal vote you can use it to vote in all elections and in referendums. So, you can vote by post for the UK parliament, recall petitions for the UK parliament, for local council elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament; go to this site to find out how.
Postal voting is particularly helpful if you are going to be away on work duties or on holiday or are physically unable to get to your polling station. To avoid voting without having to produce photo ID, consider postal voting.
If you are already registered to vote the process of getting a postal vote is simple.
If you’re not yet registered to vote you must do that before applying for a postal vote, and you will need to be able to prove your identity.
Register now
Once a general election is called you may only have a few days or a week before the voting roll is closed to new applications. To be sure you can vote, register as soon as possible. An election can be called at any time, so please register now.
What photo ID is acceptable?
If you wish to vote in person at a polling station you must present an acceptable form of ID. You can find the full list here.
Included in the list of acceptable means of identification is:
- A passport, issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country, or (including an Irish Passport Card)
- Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
- A Blue Badge
- Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass)
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card), for example a Young Scot card
Special arrangements can apply to members of the armed forces or disabled people. The Electoral Commission website has all the information.
Remember photographic voting ID is now law!
You must show an approved form of photo ID to vote at general elections and some others.
To find out more, visit:
