Voter ID

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Which forms of ID can I use to vote?

You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable.  You can use any of the following:

•           Passport

•           Driving licence (including provisional license)

•           Blue badge

•           Certain concessionary travel cards

•           Identity card with PASS mark (this includes the All in 1 MK card)

•           Biometric Immigration document

•           Defence identity card

•           Certain national identity cards

You can still use these forms of ID, even if they have expired, provided the photo remains a good likeness of you.

For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.

If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID

If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply for this at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk from 16 January onwards.

Alternatively you can request a paper application form by contacting the Council on 01908 254706 or emailing elections@milton-keynes.gov.uk 

The completed paper form can be returned by email to elections@milton-keynes.gov.uk or by post to Elections Team, Milton Keynes City Council, Civic, 1 Saxon Gate East, MK9 3EJ. The deadline for an application of a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm - 6 working days before the poll. 

Anonymous electors

Registered anonymous electors, whose identity needs to be protected and preserved, will be able to apply for an Anonymous Elector’s document. The document will not contain any personal information that could be used to identify you but will contain your unique elector number that indicates you are eligible to vote in a particular election. We will be contacting all anonymous electors in early 2023 to update you on the changes and the application process.

I’m a postal voter or proxy voter, what about me?

Postal voters will not be affected by the introduction of photo ID, and you will continue to receive your postal vote pack through the post.

If you choose to vote by proxy, where you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf, your proxy will need to take their own photo ID to be issued with a ballot paper. However, if you decide to cast your own vote, you will need to have photo ID with you when you go to the polling station.

Find out more

If you have any questions or would like to find out more, go to electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID, or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.

Or you can go to our Elections Act 2022 sub-page.