Voters across the UK will head to the polls in their millions to cast their votes this May for local council elections.
Most rules and regulations have stayed the same, with one crucial difference: the need for photo ID.
Voters will now have to provide ID to vote for the first time. Here is some guidance for before and during this year's local election.
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Voter ID:
Registered voters will have to produce photo ID to cast their ballots in the local elections on May 4, 2023. This also applies to Police and Crime Commissioner elections, UK parliamentary by-elections, and recall petitions. From October this year photo ID will also be required for general elections.
Valid forms of photo ID include:
- Passport
- Driving licences (both full and provisional)
- Blue badges
- Older person's bus pass
- Disabled person's bus pass
- Identity card bearing the proof of age standard scheme hologram
If you do not have any forms of photo ID you can apply for a voter authority certificate for the local elections. You will be required to be registered to vote before you apply.
Applications can be made on the GOV.UK website and should be submitted before 5pm on April 25.
Face coverings:
Voters using face coverings will be asked to remove them to verify their identity. Voters can ask for this to be done in private and with female members of polling station staff.
A mirror will also be provided to help you replace your face covering once your ID has been verified.
Proxy voting:
The deadline for postal votes and registering to vote has been and gone. However, registered voters can still apply for a proxy vote.
A proxy vote allows registered voters unable to get to a polling station to nominate someone to cast their ballot on their behalf. The nominee will be required to show their own photo ID, but not the ID of the proxy voter.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote for the local elections on 4 May is 5pm on April 25. You can find your relevant form on the Electoral Commission's website.
Upon completing your form you must send it to the electoral services team at your local council. You can send it by post but some councils will accept a scanned copy of your form by email.
At the polling station:
You can find your polling station on the Electoral Commission's website. It is important to check with your polling station as it may not necessarily be the closest one to where you live. Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm. As long as you're in the queue at 10pm you'll be allowed in to cast your vote.
Your polling station will be on your polling card. If you still have not received your polling card get in touch with the electoral services of your local council.
Photography within the polling station is forbidden as it may risk the secrecy of the ballot. Photos outside the polling station are permitted.
Voters are allowed to take a photo of their own postal ballots and publicise it on social media in the interests of promoting voting. However, it is an offence to persuade or induce another voter to broadcast an image of their vote.
Campaigning on the day:
It is perfectly acceptable to campaign on polling day. However, campaigning is not permitted within the polling station itself. Campaigners must not obstruct the polling station to prevent voters from gaining entry to the station.
It is also an offence to intimidate or unduly influence someone to vote a certain way.
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