Bring Photo ID to Vote

From May 2023 individuals, who wish to vote in person, including those acting as a proxy on behalf of another individual, will be required to produce an accepted form of photographic ID to prove their identity before they will be issued with a ballot paper.

This will apply at:

• UK parliamentary by-elections
• Police and Crime Commissioner elections
• Local government elections in England

The 2019 Manifesto set out the Government’s commitment to protecting our democracy.

The Elections Act 2022 aims to ensure our democracy is secure, modern and transparent. Voter ID aims to reduce election fraud and will be rolled out across all Councils in the May 2023 elections.

This legislation has been developed working in collaboration with the electoral sector and implements several recommendations made in the 2016 Pickles Report.

What types of ID are acceptable?

• 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
• a driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
• a biometric immigration document
• an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• a Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• a Blue Badge
• a national identity card issued by an EEA state
• 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 

Expired photographic identification documents can still be used as accepted photographic ID at the polling station or signing place, as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of the elector.

Any Electors who do not hold one of the above forms of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

If you do not hold acceptable ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

These certificates are produced specifically for election purposes and cannot be used anywhere other than as ID for voting.

The certificate will be presented in an A4 paper-based format and will display the following:

• The Elector’s name
• A photograph of the Elector
• Date of issue / expiry date
• The appropriate identifier (e.g a code of 20 numbers or letters which is allocated to each Certificate)
• The words ‘issued by the Electoral Registration Officer appointed by (local authority name e.g Mid Sussex District Council)
• The recommended renewal date (10 years after date the Certificate was issued)

These certificates will be valid for a period of 10 years with a renewal required at the end of this period.

The deadline to apply for these certificates is 5pm, 6 working days before polling day.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate via one of the following methods:

• Online via the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
• via a paper application form
• in writing by providing the necessary information
• in person

NOTE: We cannot accept applications via the telephone as personal identifiers (e.g signatures) are required as part of this process.

You must be registered to vote or have recently made an application to register to vote in order to qualify for a Voter Authority Certificate

Staff will check the following when verifying ID presented to them:

• The name on the ID
• The photograph on the ID

• The date of issue
• The expiry date 

Voter ID FAQs

Voter Authority Certificate Application Form

Tel: 01444-477003
Email: elections@midsussex.gov.uk