Voter ID for elections

The Government has changed the law reagrding voting. You will now have to show photographic ID before you will be able to vote.

The following documents will be accepted as long as poll workers think the photo is a good enough likeness:

• A 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
• A driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state
• A biometric Immigration document
• An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• A Blue Badge
• A national identity card issued by an EEA state
• An Older Person's Bus Pass
• A disabled person's Bus Pass
• An Oyster 60+ card
• A Freedom Pass
• A Scottish National Entitlement card issued in Scotland
• A 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel card issued in Wales
• A Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• A Senior Smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland
• A Registered Blind Smart Pass or Blind Person's Smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland
• A War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass issued In Northern Ireland
• A 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• A Half Fare Smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland
• An Electoral Identity Card issued In Northern Ireland
• A Voter Authority Certificate or a temporary Voter Authority Certificate

Expired documents, such as passports, will also be accepted.

If a resident does not have an accepted form of ID they can obtain a newly created form of ID for election purposes called an electoral identity document which can be obtained online from GOV.UK or their local authority, depending on the type of electoral identity document required. There will be three types of this new electoral identity document:

• the Voter Authority Certificate - previously referred to as the voter card
• the temporary Voter Authority Certificate, which EROs will have the discretion to provide in contingency situations
• the Anonymous Electors Document, for use by anonymous electors only

You can find out more at https://www.bedford.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/voter-id-requirements-may-2023

You can also find out more about applying for a postal vote at https://www.bedford.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/postal-voting