Voter photo ID
Find out what identification you need to vote in person at polling stations on election day.
From 4 May 2023 onwards, all voters are required to show photographic identification (photo ID) at polling stations before they are given a ballot paper.
You are not required to provide photo ID for postal voting.
Photo ID you can use
Acceptable forms of photo ID will include:
- 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 the 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 or War Disabled 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
- Voter Authority Certificate or a temporary Voter Authority Certificate
If your photo ID has expired it will still be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of you.
Find out more about voting and bringing ID on the Electoral Commission website.
Get free photo ID for voting
If you do not have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, you can get a free photo ID document specific for the purposes of voting. This is called a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply online, by post or in person.
We recommend that you do this in good time ahead of voter identification first being required in polling stations. The first time this will be asked for will be the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.
Apply online
You can apply online now if you are registered to vote. If not you will first need to register to vote: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote (you will need your national insurance number and date of birth to register).
If you are registered to vote you can apply for photo ID online now Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (you will need your national insurance number and a recent, digital photo of yourself).
Apply by post
If you would like a paper application form to be posted out then please contact us – details below.
We can also provide this form in large print and easy to read formats.
Apply in person
If you need help to complete your application or would like us to take a photograph then please visit The Halton Direct Link Office in either Brook Street Widnes or Halton Lea, Runcorn.
Open from 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the local elections on 4 May 2023 is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
Contact us
Email
electoral@halton.gov.uk
Phone
0303 333 4300
In person
Municipal Building
Kingsway
Widnes
WA8 7QF