New legislation introduced requiring photo ID to vote

Photographic identity (ID) will now be required for anyone wanting to vote in person at future elections.

For the first time, York residents will be required by the government to show ID to vote at this year’s local elections. Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote on Thursday 4 May by checking they have an accepted form of ID.

Accepted forms of ID include:

• a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport
• a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
• some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass.

Voters will be able to use expired ID if they're still recognisable from the photo.

Read the full list of accepted forms of photo ID. Please note that student cards are notaccepted as ID for voting.

If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID, you no longer look like the photo on your ID or the name on your photo ID is different to your name on the electoral register, you can apply for a free voter authority certificate online.

If you would like to apply for a voter authority certificate by post, you can request a paper form through the government website, email: electoral.services@york.gov.uk or call on telephone: 01904 551007.

As an alternative, anyone who does not already have one can apply for a postal vote. When applying for a postal vote, identity checks take place at the time of registering and again when postal votes are verified, so voter ID or a voter authority certificate are not required.

Ian Floyd, Returning Officer and Chief Executive Officer at City of York Council, said:

Anyone voting at a polling station on 4 May for the City of York Council local elections - including students and EU citizens - will need to show photo ID before they can be given their ballot paper.

"It’s important that everyone understands what types of ID they can use, and how to apply for free ID if they need it. It may seem early, but checking now means you will be ready to vote in May.

“Residents who do not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for a free voter card. You can do this either online, or by requesting and completing a paper application form and sending this to City of York Council’s electoral services team.

“For help with applying for the free voter certificate or to request an application form, email: electoral.services@york.gov.uk or call telephone: 01904 551007.”

Anyone who wants to vote must be registered. It only takes 5 minutes to register online. You must be registered to vote before applying for free voter ID.

The requirement to show photo ID at the polling station, is a new requirement, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act which was passed last year and comes into effect for the first time this May.

Read more about changes to elections and voting.