Voter ID | Brent Council

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The council and democracy

Elections and voting

Voter ID

You know need to show photo ID when voting in person at polling stations in some UK elections or referendums. You will need it when voting in:

General Elections
by-elections
local elections
local authority referendums
neighbourhood planning referendums
London Assembly and Mayor of London elections.

Accepted forms of ID

There are a range of photo ID documents that will be accepted. These include:

eligible passports
eligible driver’s licenses
multiple concessionary travel passes
PASS cards

View the full list of acceptable ID documents

Only the original document will be accepted at the polling station. A photocopy version or a picture of the original document will not be accepted.

Out of date photo ID

Expired photo ID documents will be accepted as long as the photograph still looks like you

The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.

If you do not have accepted photo ID

You can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, if:

you have lost or don't have an accepted form of photo ID
you're not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you
you're worried about using an existing form of ID for any other reason

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

You must be registered to vote before you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

When applying for a Voter Authority Certificate, you will need to provide your:

name - this should be the same name that you used to register to vote.
address
date of birth
National Insurance number

If it is past the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, you can contact: electoral.services@brent.gov.uk

Why has photo ID been introduced?

The requirement to provide photo ID when voting in person was introduced as part of the Election Act 2022. It aims to prevent impersonation, the crime of pretending to be someone else when you vote.

The government acknowledges levels of fraud are low but argues that every ballot matters, and that photo ID will protect voters from having their vote stolen.

How long will it take for the free photo ID to arrive

The government have provided guidance of one month to ensure enough time for all checks to be carried out and the document to be delivered. If additional information is required from the applicant, the process may take longer.

My free photo ID has not arrived

If your Voter Authority Certificate has not arrived within a month, you should email: electoral.services@brent.gov.uk applicants to find out why it has been delayed.

If the document has not arrived six working days from the polling day a temporary Voter Authority Certificate may be issued, or the applicant can ask for an emergency proxy. The proxy must have photo ID to show at the polling station.

Can I collect my Voter Authority Certificate in person?

If there is a valid reason the Voter Authority Certificate can’t be mailed, it can be collected in person.

The Voter Authority Certificate must be collected by the applicant of the certificate, someone cannot collect it on behalf of someone else. This also applies to temporary Voter Authority Certificates.

What happens if my Voter Authority Certificate application is refused

The reason the application is refused will be provided to the applicant and there is an option to appeal the decision, but it must be within 14 days of the refusal.

Voters can also apply for a postal vote or nominate a proxy via the Council’s website.

What happens to my data if I apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

Data collected for the Voter Authority Certificates will be encrypted and stored in a secure area specific to Brent Council.

Brent Council processes information in adherence to individual rights under the data protection legislation.

Do I need to show photo ID if I am voting on behalf of someone else?

If you are voting by proxy, you will need to bring your own photo ID with you to the polling station.

You do not need to provide photo ID of the person you are voting on behalf of.

Do I require photo ID if I vote by post?

If you are voting by post, you do not need to show your photo ID.

Last updated 04/07/24