Voter ID Coming to Local Elections in Welwyn Hatfield
The 4th May local elections are fast approaching, and this year for the first time, voter ID is required at the polling stations across Welwyn Hatfield.
You will need to bring a valid form of photo ID with you, together with your polling card:
Accepted forms of photo 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)
- A Blue Badge
- Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
- Oyster 60+ Card funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
- Freedom Pass
- Scottish National Entitlement Card
- 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
- Biometric immigration document
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
- Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
- Voter Authority Certificate
- Anonymous Elector's Document
You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.
If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID
You can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, if:
- you don't have an accepted form of photo ID
- you're not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you
- you're worried about using an existing form of ID for any other reason, such as the use of a gender marker
Find out how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate here:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/applying-a-voter-authority-certificate
Remember: You need to be registered to vote before applying for a Voter Authority Certificate. If you are not registered to vite, you can do so here:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/register-vote-and-update-your-details
Out of date photo ID
You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
Postal Votes
For those not sure if they have the right photo ID, it will be much easier to apply for a postal vote this year, as ID is not required. You can do this via the Electoral Commission on this link:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/.../apply-vote-post
The deadline for applying for a postal vote in this year's elections is Tuesday 18 April.