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From May 2023 anyone wishing to vote in person, including those acting as a proxy on behalf of another, must have an accepted form of photographic ID to prove their identity.

This will apply at:

  • UK parliamentary by-elections
  • Recall petitions
  • Police and Crime Commissioner elections
  • Local government elections in England, including local government referendums unless otherwise stated

The need for voter ID at UK Parliamentary General elections will only begin after 5 October 2023.

Accepted photographic ID

  • 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
  • Driving licence issued by UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
  • Biometric immigration document
  • Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
  • Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
  • Blue Badge
  • National identity card issued by an EEA state
  • Older Person's Bus Pass
  • Disabled Person's Bus Pass
  • Oyster 60+ Card
  • Freedom Pass
  • Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
  • 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
  • Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
  • Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person's SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • 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.

Voter authority certificate

If you do not have or do not wish to use one of the accepted forms of photographic ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This document has an elector's name and photograph. You can get one free of charge from Dudley Council, following verification of your identity.

Anonymous Electors

Anonymous electors wishing to vote in person also need to produce photographic ID. Because their entry on the polling station register is linked to their electoral number, rather than their name, the only accepted form of photographic ID for an anonymous elector is an Anonymous Elector’s Document. This document has an anonymous elector's elector number and photograph.

If you are an Anonymous Elector please contact the Electoral Services Office for an Anonymous Elector's Document application form.

The Voter Authority Certificate and Anonymous Elector’s Document cannot be used as proof of identity for any other purpose than for voting.

Your guide to voter ID - easy read

Information for blind and partially sighted

The Electoral Commission has produced these booklets to help blind and partially sighted people, and the people who support them, to meet the new voter ID requirement.

Information for deaf people and those with hearing loss

The Electoral Commission has produced some videos to help deaf people and those with hearing loss, and the people who support them, to meet the new voter ID requirement.

Voter ID Booklet translations

The Electoral Commission has translated the Voter ID booklet to help people whose main language is not English, and the people who support them, to meet the new voter ID requirement.

Voter ID data

The Electoral Commission has given guidance on what headline data can be made public regarding Voter ID. This is, at the May 2023 Local Elections:-

  • The number of polling station electors who applied for, but were not issued with, a ballot paper in the polling station was 232
  • The number of polling station electors who were not issued with a ballot paper and who later returned with accepted ID and were issued with a ballot paper was 37
  • The number of polling station electors who applied for but were not issued with a ballot paper by close of poll was 195
  • The total number of electors who were eligible to vote in person at the polling stations was 194,397
  • Total number of voters issued with a ballot paper at polling stations was 38,762
  • The percentage of electors eligible to vote in person at the polling stations who voted was 19.9%

Contact us

Email: elections@dudley.gov.uk

Electoral Services
Council House
Priory Road
Dudley
DY1 1HF