What do a supermarket loyalty card, a social media account and a hand-drawn picture have in common?
None of them are accepted forms of ID to vote at a polling station!
As of 2023, everyone voting in person at polling stations across the country needs to show a valid type of photo identification to be given a ballot paper.
Calderdale Council has released a short comedy sketch video about voter ID, with the message, ‘Do yourself a favour – before voting at a polling station this year, find out what forms of ID are accepted first.’
In the video, a resident goes to a polling station without the right photo ID. When asked by the poll clerks, she tries her luck with various items from her bag – a supermarket loyalty card and a shopping receipt, a video from her TikTok account, and a picture of herself drawn by her 4-year-old son. Much to her dismay, none of these do the trick, and eventually she says she’ll have to come back.
Watch the film here(external link).
Accepted forms of photo ID include a passport, driving licence, Blue Badge, bus pass and many others. Visit the Council’s voter identification web page for the full list.
If you are planning to vote in person and do not have one of these types of ID, you will need to request a free voter ID document called a Voter Authority Certificate.
To apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, visit Apply for photo ID to vote(external link) (GOV.UK).
You can also complete a paper application and send this to the Council’s Electoral Services at Mulcture House, Mulcture Hall Road, Halifax, HX1 1SP.
To get an application form, or for help to apply, please visit Halifax Customer First at 19 Horton Street, Halifax, HX1 1QE.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
You don’t need photo ID for postal voting.
Robin Tuddenham, Returning Officer at Calderdale Council, said:
“As we approach the local and West Yorkshire Mayoral elections on 2 May, please make sure you have an accepted form of photo ID or you won’t be able to vote at a polling station.
“This new national rule came into place in 2023 to help prevent electoral fraud.
“Our in-house digital team has created a new video starring members of our Electoral Services. It’s funny and memorable, but with a serious message, to remind people of the voter ID requirements. Have a watch, get your photo ID ready and keep your supermarket loyalty card in your bag!”
Anyone who wants to have their say in the elections this May must also be registered to vote. It only takes five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote(external link). Voters wishing to apply for free ID should first make sure they are registered to vote.
The deadline for registering to vote in the May 2024 elections is midnight on Tuesday 16 April 2024.
More information:
Calderdale Council website: Elections and voting
Email: voterid@calderdale.gov.uk
Telephone: 01422 393103