Voter ID

Voter ID required for voting at elections

The Election Act 2022 was passed by the UK Parliament in April 2022 and requires voters to provide photo ID at polling stations. This will apply to General Elections from 5 October 2023 and all other elections from May 2023 including:

local elections
local 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 documents

Expired photo ID documents will be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of the elector.

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.

What if I do not have photo ID?

If you do not have one of the accepted documents, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate on the government website from 16 January 2023.

Will I be required to provide photo ID if I am voting on behalf of someone else?

If you are acting as a proxy, you will be required to bring photo ID for yourself to the polling station. You do not need to provide photo ID of the person you are voting on behalf of. Find out more information on proxy voting.

Do I require photo ID if I vote by post?

If you are a postal voter, you will not be required to show your photo ID. Find more information on postal voting.

Take a look at some key questions about the new rules on photo ID.

Why is photo ID being 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.

What forms of photo ID are accepted?

UK, Commonwealth or EEA passport
UK, Channel Islands, Isla of Man or an EEA driving licence
Biometric immigration document

View the full list of accepted identity documents

When is the next scheduled election?

As of January 2023, the next scheduled election in Brent is 2 May 2024, which will be the Greater London Authority Election.

There will be elections in other areas in May 2023 that will require photo ID.

What to do if you don't have an accepted form of photo ID

Residents can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate on the government website, and this will be accepted as a form of photo ID.

The deadline for applications is 5pm, 6 working days before the polling day but it is recommended to apply prior to this to ensure the Voter Authority Certificate arrives on time.

Residents should note that they must be registered to vote or applied to register to vote and the Voter Authority Certificate can only be used at elections.

There is also the option to apply for a postal vote or nominate someone to act as a proxy, details of this can be found on the Council website. Anyone acting as a proxy will be required to show their ID at the polling station.

How to apply for free photo ID

Residents can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online through the government website. They will require a photo of themselves, their National Insurance Number and date of birth. Residents must apply by 5pm, 6 working days before the polling day but should leave more time to ensure it arrives on time.

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.

What to do if your free photo ID has not arrived

If your Voter Authority Certificate has not arrived within a month applicants can contact Brent Electoral Services to see why it has been delayed.

If the document has not arrived 6 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.

What to do if you have lost your photo ID

If it is prior to 5pm, 6 working days before the polling day you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate on the government website.

If you require a new Voter Authority Certificate or it is past the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate please contact: electoral.services@brent.gov.uk

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.

Last updated 14/06/23