New Voting Requirement

You can apply for a Voter ID Certificate, free of charge, from your local council.    The deadline for doing this before the next local elections is 25^th April.   In order to apply for this, you must be registered to vote.   However, if you are not already registered to vote, you can do this at the same time as requesting your Voter ID Certificate.    Application forms can be provided in Easy Read and larger print.   Requests can be made:

• on-line - at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk

• by telephone – you can request an application form by calling the Electoral Commission Helpline on 0800 328 0280

• by post – you can request a hard copy of the form from your local authority and then post it back to them.

• in person from your local authority – please check to see what the drop-in arrangements are at your local council.

Some local authorities might also be able to accept applications by telephone.   You can also ask for instructions on how to apply in Easy Read, large print or braille.   

You will be asked to supply your:

• Name

• Address

• Date of Birth

• National Insurance Number (NINO)

If you are unable to find or you don’t know your NINO, the council will advise you of another form of identity that you can use, such as a recent utility bill. 

If you are not able to provide any other form of identity, the final option would be to ask a person of good standing within the community to provide an Attestation to establish your identity.   

If it is clear that your Voter ID Certificate is not going to be processed in time for the next election, you can be issued with a temporary version.  

When you arrive at the polling station you will be asked to give your name and address in the normal way, so that you can be found on the voting register.   You will then be asked to show your photo ID.   If you would prefer for your ID to be checked in private, you can request this and each polling station will be providing a confidential space for this purpose.  

Photo ID isn’t needed if you are voting by post, because ID checks are carried out when you apply to vote that way.    If you wish to vote by post at the next local elections, the deadline to apply for this will be 5pm 18^th April.  

In certain circumstances, if you are not going to be able to vote you can ask someone that you trust to vote on your behalf by proxy.    These circumstances would include situations when you will be away on polling day or you have a medical issue or disability.     The person voting for you must be aged over 18 and eligible to vote in the relevant elections.   

You can request a Proxy Voting Form by going on-line at electoralcommission.org.uk/voter or you can call the Electoral Commission helpline on 0800 328 0280.   The deadline to apply for someone to vote for you by proxy is 5pm 25^th April.

The person voting on your behalf will need to show their own photo ID when they get to the polling station rather than yours.