Wokingham Borough Council is reminding residents that they must have suitable photo ID to be able to cast their vote in the forthcoming elections.
Local elections are taking place on Thursday, May 2, with all 54 seats up for contention on Wokingham Borough Council. On the same day, there is also a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election for the Thames Valley, and there may be parish council elections if any seats are contested.
Although photo ID was a requirement at last year’s local elections, not all borough wards were up and so for many residents this will be the first time they need to bring ID.
The change was introduced as a result of the Elections Act, which was passed in 2022 and has seen a number of changes to elections and voting.
For those who do not have suitable ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC). This can be done online, or by completing a paper form and sending it to our electoral services team.
Before applying, check the ID you already have. Accepted forms of ID include:
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Passport.
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Full or provisional driving licence.
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Blue badge.
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Certain concessionary travel cards, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.
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Identity card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) mark.
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Biometric Immigration document.
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Defence identity card.
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Certain national identity cards.
Expired ID will also be accepted, as long as the photograph on the document still resembles a likeness of the elector.
If you turn up at a polling station without a suitable photo ID, you will not be issued with a ballot paper.
Bringing your poll card alone will not entitle you to vote.
Andrew Moulton, returning officer at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Although this will not be the first year when photo ID has been a requirement, for many it will be their first experience of taking ID to the polling station and we want to support all residents to vote.
“We don’t want this to be a barrier to people exercising their democratic right and would encourage everyone to be prepared.
If you would prefer not to show ID at a polling station, you can apply to vote by post or proxy, which removes the need for photo ID. However, your proxy will still need to show their photo ID.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote for the May elections is 5pm on Wednesday April 17, and for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday April 24. You can now apply to vote by post or proxy online through new government portals.
The need for photo ID also applies to UK parliamentary elections. Although the date for the next general election has not yet been confirmed, it must be held by January 28, 2025, but it could be called sooner.
You can contact the electoral services team by email or call (0118) 974 6000 to request paper copies of application forms. The team will also be happy to help with any queries you may have in completing a form.
