For the first time, residents in Wyre will need to show photographic ID to vote at this year’s local elections and are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of ID.
The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.
You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy or photograph.
You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:
- Passport (this can be used even if it’s out of date, as long as the photo looks like you)
- Driving licence (including provisional licence)
- Blue badge
- Certain concessionary travel cards
- Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- Biometric Immigration document
- Defence identity card
- Certain national identity cards
Visit Electoral Commission - Voter ID for a full list of accepted ID.
If you do not have ID
If you do not already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you are not sure your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply for this by visiting Gov.uk - Apply for photo ID to vote.
Alternatively, you can complete a paper application form and send this to the electoral services team at Wyre Council.
You can see how the gathering and use of your data in order to process Voter Authority Certificates is goverend by visiting Gov.uk - Privacy notice.
Voting by post
You do not need photo ID if you are voting by post. To apply to vote by post, you can complete a postal vote application form and return this to Wyre Council by Tuesday 18 April. You will then receive your ballot paper in the post.
To apply to vote by post visit Gov.uk - Apply for a postal vote.
Alternatively, you can contact the Electoral Services Team at Wyre Council on 01253 887236 or email electoral.services@wyre.gov.uk.
Voting by proxy
If you choose to vote by proxy (allowing someone you trust to vote on your behalf) the person you choose to vote on your behalf will need to provide their own photo ID to be able to cast your vote. They will not need to show your ID when voting on your behalf.
To apply to vote by proxy visit Gov.uk - Voting by proxy.
Alternatively, you can contact the Electoral Services Team at Wyre Council on 01253 887236 or email electoral.services@wyre.gov.uk.
This must be returned to Wyre Council by Tuesday 25 April.
Making your polling station more accessible
All of the polling stations in Wyre are accessible via floor level entry or ramps. There are also a number of things at the polling station to help you cast your vote, including a large print sample ballot paper, and a tactile voting device to help if you have a visual impairment.
If you want to, you can take your phone into the polling booth to use magnifier or text-to-speech apps, or the phone torch to improve lighting. When using your phone please don’t take any photos inside the polling station.
You can also ask polling station staff to help you, or you can bring someone with you to help (if they’re over 18 and eligible to vote in the election).
For more information about voting in person please visit the Electoral Commission website.
Resources
The Electoral Commission have published resources to help disabled people, and partner organisations who support them, to meet the new requirements:
- Guide for staff and volunteers (plain text) for blind and partially sighted people
- Voter booklet (plain text) for blind and partially sighted people
- Voter booklet in Easy Read for people with learning disabilities
These resources follow the publication of resources to help other key groups, including older people, trans and non-binary people, and homeless people.
Register to vote
If you are not registered to vote, you will need to register by Monday 17 April to vote in these elections.
If you are not sure if you are registered to vote, call Electoral Services on 01253 887236 to check.
Visit Gov.uk - Register to Vote to register online.