Local elections are underway today (Thursday May 4) as thousands of constituents cast their votes across parts of England.
Some 230 local authorities are holding elections - and just under a third of those have every seat of the council up for grabs. In Greater Manchester, Oldham, Wigan, Tameside, Stockport, Trafford and Bolton are having all-out elections.
Meanwhile mayoral elections are happening in Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough. Polling stations will open from 7am and close at 10pm - and you must attend the address on your poll card in order to vote.
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Under new national legislation, the 2023 local elections will mark the first time polling stations will require voters to have an approved photo ID with them. The rule is due to be extended to UK General Elections from October.
The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote. Your ID can still be used even if it's expired, but the photo must still look like you.
The following forms of ID will be accepted in polling stations across England today:
- Passports - 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 licences, including provisional - issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
- A Blue Badge
- Older Person’s Bus Pass - funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass - funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
- Oyster 60+ Card - funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
- Freedom Pass
- Scottish National Entitlement Card
- 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Senior SmartPass - issued in Northern Ireland
- Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass - issued in Northern Ireland
- War Disablement SmartPass - issued in Northern Ireland
- 60+ SmartPass - issued in Northern Ireland
- Half Fare SmartPass - issued in Northern Ireland
Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card) will also be accepted. Other valid government issued documents include:
- 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
If you don't have valid photo ID
If you don't have any of the above ID, then a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) will be accepted instead. However, the deadline to apply for a VAC was April 25.
If you are casting a postal vote, photo ID is not needed. If you have been nominated to vote for someone else by proxy, you must supply your own photo ID.
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