Voter ID

A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or 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 (PASS)
Ministry of defence form 90 (Defence identity card)
Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran 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 an over Welsh Concessionary card issued in Wales
A disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary card issued in Wales
A Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
A Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass 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 SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
An Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
A Voter Authority Certificate or temporary Voter Authority Certificate

You can even accept ID that has expired, as long as the photo still looks like the voter!

You will have a place card and a handbook at a polling station showing you what some if the different forms if ID look like but here are some examples of the less common forms of ID.

If a voter doesn’t have any of the ID listed above, or they are worried that it doesn’t look like them anymore, they can apply for a voter authority certificate.

The deadline for voters to apply for this is 5pm on Wednesday 23rd April, so if any voters arrive on polling day saying they need ID, they are unfortunately too late to apply.

Voter authority certificates are approved by the city council but are issued by a government-selected print company. We cannot control how quickly these are issued once approved and any voters that opt to collect their certificate from the council offices must wait for them to be delivered to us.

Both poll clerks and presiding officers are allowed to check ID but the presiding officer must make the final decision if a form of ID is rejected.

A form of photo ID may be rejected if:

it is not listed as an accepted form of ID
polling station staff do not think that the voter is a true likeness to the ID
polling station staff believe the ID to be a forgery

What to look for when checking ID

Does the person have any distinguishing features e.g. moles or scars?
Compare the shape of the face and main features
Check the ID against the examples of the accepted ID provided in your placemat and in the handbook, particularly if it is one of the less common forms of ID
Are there any signs of tampering?
Is it an original copy of the ID?

Remember, ID can last for about 10 years, and you can even accept expired ones so you should expect some people to look a bit different. They may have gained/lost weight, grown a beard or changed their hair colour.

If a voter arrives at a polling station with ID that the presiding officer cannot accept, you should explain this to them. You can issue them with the 'why haven't I been allowed to vote' leaflet and offer them the opportunity to come back with another form of ID.

Details other than the voters name and photo do not need to be checked e.g. if ID reflects the voters previous address or their ID does not reflect the gender that they identify as.

Name variations can be accepted if they are reasonable e.g. double barreled names or middle names. If a name is significantly different then you are entitled to (but don't have to) ask for supporting evidence e.g. a marriage certificate.

Private ID checks

Some voters may wish for their ID to be checked in private, this may be for personal or religious purposes. You should ensure that the polling station is equipped to offer this, either in a separate room or with the provision of a privacy booth in the corner of the room.

You should be mindful of who will complete private ID checks, particularly if it is required for religious purposes.

Staff should never feel pressured to be alone with a member of the public if they are not comfortable to do so.

There are two new forms that you are required to complete throughout the day, these are included in the presiding officer supplementary information booklet.

You should ensure that you record any voters in this throughout the day and review it again at close of poll.

Voter ID Evaluation Form (VIDEF)

The VIDEF notes sheet is used to collect data which will be used to produce a record of specific issues relating to the checking of photographic ID and will help the evaluation of how ID requirements are working in practice.

On this form, you should record anyone that:

uses a Voter Authority Certificate
that requests that their ID is checked in private
you have turned away for not having any ID or not having accepted ID

Ballot paper refusal list (BPRL)

You should record on the BPRL any voters that you have turned away because:

You are not satisfied the identification is of who they claim to be (e.g. the photo was not a good likeness). or
You believe the document is a forgery or
The elector or proxy was asked the statutory questions and did not answer as required.

If the voter returns with another form of ID that can be accepted, then you can mark this on the list.

You can view a copy of these forms, which will also be provided in your supplementary information booklet.