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Voter ID

You now need to produce a photo ID to vote in person.

If you try and vote and you do not have any photo ID then you will be turned away.

Voters attending the polls on Thursday 4 May, will be refused a ballot if they do not show government-issued photo ID. 

Accepted ID

  • 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
  • Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence) 
  • Blue Badge 
  • Proof of Age Standards Scheme card (PASS) 
  • Other government-issued ID such as Biometric Immigration Document, Defence Identity Card, National Identity Card. 
  • Certain concessionary cards for local travel 

A full list of acceptable ID is on the Electoral Commission Website:

You can use identification that has expired providing you can still be recognised on the photo.

You need to be identifiable from the picture on your ID. If the picture does not look like you, then it will not be accepted. 

Photocopies will not be accepted. Only original photo ID can be used for voter identification purposes. 

Free voter ID

You can apply for free voter ID with a Voter Authority Certificate:

To get free voter ID you will need

  • Your name
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • National insurance number
  • A recent photo of yourself

You will find your national insurance number on your payslip, P60 or letters about tax, pensions or benefits.

Postal votes 

You do not require photo ID to cast a postal vote.

To register a postal vote you need your national insurance number and date of birth to identify yourself online. 

Help and support

The council is on hand to support residents in registering to vote or obtaining Voter Authority Certificates.

If you can’t get online, our staff can help you complete this over the phone by calling 0161 770 4718

Alternatively, you can call into one of our libraries where you can:

  • get help to get online and talk through registration with one of our staff.
  • borrow a Chromebook with data for free, in the same way you would borrow a normal book.
  • get a code for free data as part of our data bank.

Contact

If you have a question about the new requirements for registering to vote, the requirement of voter ID or how to get free voter ID please contact the Elections team:

Elections Team