Voter photo ID at a polling station

On election day you only need to show one form of photographic ID to staff at the polling station, but it needs to be the original version and not a scan, image or photocopy.

You cannot use a picture of the document on your phone, it must be the original document. If you have a form of accepted photo ID which is out of date, you can still use it if it still looks like you.

You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable.  You can use any of the following:

• passport
• driving licence (including provisional licence)
• blue badge
• certain concessionary travel cards
• identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
• biometric Immigration document
• defence identity card
• certain national identity cards

If you don’t have photo ID

If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply for this at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk.

To apply you will need:

• a recent, digital photo of yourself
• your National Insurance number

You will need to be registered to vote before you apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. 

Postal voters

If you vote by post you do not need to provide photo ID. Find out more about postal votes.

Find out more

You can find out more on the Electoral Commission web site, or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.

See a YouTube video of Trevor Holden, managing director of Broadlands and South Norfolk councils rapping about voter ID like a Boss

Page last reviewed: 23 February 2024