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Voter ID

Published on 16 March 2023 12:49 PM

We have teamed up with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to run a non-party political, impartial, non-election specific campaign to inform Londoners about the changes to voting rights brought about by the Elections Act (2022) – namely the introduction of mandatory photo identification.

Why are we running this campaign?

Polling commissioned by the GLA and carried out by YouGov [1] shows that: 

  • 61 percent of Londoners are not aware of the forthcoming photo ID requirement in order to vote
  • Black and EU Londoners, and Londoners on lower household incomes are least likely to be aware
  • When asked what forms of ID respondents hold, polling revealed one in 10 Londoners (11 per cent) do not hold a form of approved photo voter ID specified in the Elections Act (2022).

This is on top of the structural barriers already faced by under-represented Londoners, including Deaf and Disabled and LGBTQ+ Londoners when trying to exercise their rights.  

The campaign, which is coordinated with the Electoral Commission's nation-wide campaign, aims to ensure that under-registered and under-represented Londoners have a say on decisions that matter to them and that all eligible Londoners continue to access their civic and democratic rights. 

Shout Out UK co-designed digital and print resources with under-represented communities in order to produce assets that raised awareness of the acceptable forms of photo ID to vote, how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, and the importance of registering to vote.  The first phase of the campaign launched on the 16th of January, supported by a pan-London coalition of civil society organisations, educational institutions and London boroughs who have been sharing these resources online, in their venues and during relevant in-person activities around Voter ID. 

What are acceptable forms of photo identification?

If you wish to vote in person, including as a proxy for another voter, you are required to present an approved form of photo identification. Approved forms of photo ID cannot be any form of identification. You will need to present one of these forms of ID in order to vote: 

Expired photographic identification will be accepted, as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of the elector. If you do not possess any of the acceptable forms of photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.

The requirement for photo identification to vote will be applicable at local elections in England from May 2023. However, as there are no local elections taking place in London in May 2023, the first time these changes will apply in London will be at the May 2024 elections. 

Ways you can make a difference

If you would like to get involved with the campaign, you can access all our resources, including print, digital, social media assets, by visiting https://registertovote.london/

We encourage you to take action:

  1. If you are a civil society organisation - share content on your social media platforms, displaying print resources in your venues, using them during relevant in-person activity and in any other way that will benefit your beneficiaries and the wider community. 
  2. If you are a Londoner - make sure you have an approved photo ID to vote or apply for the free Voter Authority Certificate and spread the word to your family, friends and in your community to help reach as many Londoners as possible.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please email Shima at shima@shoutoutuk.org.

Matteo Bergamini, CEO, Shout Out UK

Matteo Bergamini is the founder and CEO of Shout Out UK, who currently run the Voter ID campaign in collaboration with the Greater London Authority.

Matteo Bergamini, CEO, Shout Out UK

Citations

[1] The survey was carried out online by YouGov Plc. for the Greater London Authority. Fieldwork was undertaken between 19th and 24th August 2022 with a total sample size of 1,245 London residents. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all London adults (aged 18+). https://data.london.gov.uk/gla-poll-results/2022-2/