The forms of ID you can use to vote in local elections 2025
Full list of photo IDs accepted for voting in local elections 2025
Local elections are taking place across the country today, May 1 - but voters must take photo ID to the polling station with them or face getting turned away.
New rules introduced in 2023 mean voters will need to have some form of ID on hand in order to be allowed to vote. When the new legislation was introduced, the government claimed it was introduced to help prevent voter fraud.
The 2025 local elections will see millions of people voting for 1,631 council seats, 23 county, unitary and metropolitan councils, and six directly elected mayors in what is set to be the first local elections since Labour won the 2024 General Election.
Voters all across the country will have to bring proof of ID if they plan to vote at a polling station for the local election. Without the correct form of ID, they won't be able to vote.
Voting will cover local government elections, parish council elections, local authority mayoral elections, combined authority mayoral elections and combined county authority mayoral elections.
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All forms of ID accepted at polling stations
In general, passports, driving licences and blue badges are accepted forms of identification when going to vote. Or, if you don't have any of these forms of ID, you can also apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
However, applications for Voter Authority Certificates for the May local elections have now closed. Voters wishing to vote by proxy, post or from abroad who have not already applied to do so have also missed their deadline.
Full list of the forms of ID that are accepted for the local elections:
- UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
- Driving licence issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
- UK passport
- Passport issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
- PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- Blue Badge
- Biometric residence permit (BRP)
- Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
- HM Armed Forces Veteran Card (MOD form 100) - only for elections or referendums held on or after 1 May 2025
- National identity card issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
- Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
- Voter Authority Certificate
- Anonymous Elector’s Document
You can also use one of the following travel passes as photo ID when you vote:
- Older person’s bus pass
- Disabled person’s bus pass
- Oyster 60+ card
- Freedom Pass
- Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC)
- 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Northern Ireland concessionary travel pass
The photo ID you show must be the original version. You cannot use a photograph, image on a phone or a photocopy of your ID.
The photo on your ID must look like you and you can still use your ID even if it has expired.
The government is also warning that the name on your ID must match your name on the electoral register. If it does not, you’ll need to either:
- register to vote again with your new details
- take a document with you to vote that proves you’ve changed your name (for example, a marriage certificate)