Voter ID
You now have to show photo ID at the polling station before you can vote
This is a nationwide change brought in by the Elections Act 2022.
This will apply to all voters in Hart who vote in person or by proxy.
Accepted forms of photo ID
You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station. You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.
International travel
- 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 and parking
- 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
Local travel
- Older Person’s Bus Pass
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
- Oyster 60+ Card
- 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
Proof of age
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram. This is also known as a PASS card
Other government issued documents
- 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
Out of date photo ID
You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you.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.
Polling station staff will only accept ID if the photo is a good enough likeness for them to confirm the identity of the holder.
No suitable photo ID?
If you do not have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, and you want to vote at the polling station, you will need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free ID document issued specifically for voting.
Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificate or valid identification will not be allowed to vote on the polling day.
You can apply for 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
Apply online for your Voter Authority Certificate
You will need to be registered to vote before you apply.
Postal and proxy vote
Postal voters will not be affected and will be issued with their postal ballot papers as usual. If you choose to vote by proxy, then the person who you have trusted to vote on your behalf will have to take their own identification in order to be issued with a ballot paper.