Voter ID photo needs to be planned now, Post Office warns

Voters are advised to consider whether there is enough time for a new passport or driver’s licence to be returned to them if they are intending to use it as their photo ID in order to vote at the elections on Thursday, May 4.

It is the first time a form of ID will be required to vote in England and Wales.

Elinor Hull, Post Office identity services director, said: “No one wants to see someone turned away from voting at a polling station because they don’t have the required form of ID with them.

Voter ID will be required for the first time in England and Wales for the local elections (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

“Our postmasters handle thousands of applications for passport and driver’s licence renewals every week as people still prefer to do this face to face and have peace of mind that their application has been checked and completed correctly.

“Many people with an expiring passport will be desperate to renew it before the summer holidays, but if you’re planning to do so around the local elections it’s important to consider what other form of photo ID you have to vote.

“We know from sales of our own Post Office PASS card how popular it is among younger people.

“We want to do what we can to raise awareness among young people in particular that they may already have an acceptable form of photo ID that’s in their wallet, that they likely use it frequently in their day-to-day life and that they can use it to vote at May’s elections.”

What will be accepted as Voter ID at local elections?

You can use any of the following acceptable forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station:

• Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
• Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
• A Blue Badge
• Older Person’s Bus Pass
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric immigration document
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector's Document

You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.

The voter ID introduction has seen some criticism (Image: PA)

Criticism of Voter ID Measures

Angela Rayner, Labour deputy leader and shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has criticised the introduction of voter ID saying it as "expensive and unnecessary".

She added: "No one should be missing out on democracy because this Government can’t keep our public services running effectively.

“If voters don’t have the Government’s required photo ID, the easiest way to vote is by signing up for a postal vote.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We cannot be complacent when it comes to ensuring our democracy remains secure. Photo identification has been used in Northern Ireland elections since 2003.

“The vast majority of people already have a form of acceptable identification. We’re urging anyone who doesn’t to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate as soon as possible and we expect more people to apply over the next few weeks.

“We’re working closely with the sector to support the rollout and are funding the necessary equipment and staffing for the change in requirements.”