What it is
You’ll need to show photographic identification at a polling station to cast your vote in a UK Parliamentary election.
You do not need to provide photographic identification when voting at a polling station in Scottish Parliamentary or local government (council) elections.
Acceptable forms of voter ID
The name on your photographic identification should be the same name that you used to register to vote.
Acceptable photo identification includes:
- passport
- driving licence, including provisional licences
- Scottish National Entitlement card - issued for the purpose of concessionary travel
- Blue Badge
- Older Person’s Bus Pass
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
- identity card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) hologram, for example a Young Scot card
- biometric immigration document
- defence identity card.
You only need to show one form of identification, but it needs to be the original and not a photocopy or digital version.
Your photographic identification does not need to have a gender marker.
Your identification can be expired, as long as you still look like the photo.
If you do not have photographic identification
If you do not have an acceptable form of photographic identification, you can apply for a free voter authority certificate.
This is a paper document with your photo on it that you can use to prove your identity when voting in an election.
Before you apply for a voter authority certificate
You need to be registered to vote before you apply for a voter authority certificate.
You can apply for a free voter authority certificate during the registration process.
When you apply for a voter authority certificate, you’ll need to provide:
- your name
- address
- date of birth
- a digital photo of yourself
- National Insurance number.
If do not know your National Insurance number, you can still apply, but the elections team or Electoral Registration Office will contact you to ask for a different proof of your identity.
How to apply for a voter authority certificate
Online
Apply for a free voter authority certificate online (GOV.UK)
By post
You can also apply for a voter authority certificate by post.
Download and fill in the paper form (GOV.UK).
Then post the form to your electoral registration office at:
Electoral Registration Officer
Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1BF
You can get a paper application form from the Electoral Registration Office.
Voting by post
If you vote by post, you do not need to provide voter ID.
Find out more about voting by post.
Voting by proxy
If your proxy votes on your behalf at the polling station, they’ll be asked to show their photographic identification.
They will not be asked to show any ID for you.
Find out more about voting by proxy.
More information
Find out more about voter ID (GOV.UK).