Voter ID

Page updated on: 17/04/2024

Elections Act 2022- Changes to the way we vote for certain elections and what you need to know

Changes to voting in elections

Central government is making changes to UK elections and the way we vote. A new law called the Elections Act will affect elections from May 2023, for:

  • Your Member of Parliament (MP)
  • The Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed

**This does not affect Senedd, local council elections and Town/Community elections in Wales as these elections are the responsibility of Welsh Government.

Voter Identification (ID)

The law will require you to show photo ID when you want to vote at a polling station when there is a Parliamentary or Police and Crime Commissioner election. This could be an approved form of photo ID, such as a passport. Expired ID documents will be accepted if the photo is still a good likeness of you.

The most commonly used ID include:

  • Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA status or a Commonwealth country.
  • Photographic driver’s licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
  • European Economic Area (EEA) photographic ID card
  • An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (PASS card)
  • A Blue Badge
  • Older Person’s Bus Pass
  • Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
  • Oyster 60+ Card

Only original documents are accepted, scanned images or copies will not be accepted. However, if your photo ID has expired it will be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness to you.

If you do not have an approved ID, you will need to apply for a free 'Voter Authority Certificate' (VAC) – sometimes called a 'Voter Card' or 'Electoral Identification Document'. Voters will be able to apply online for a VAC through a new GOV.UK Voter Authority Certificate website. An alternative paper application form designed by the Electoral Commission, allowing electors to make their application for a Voter Authority Certificate on paper and sent to the Electoral Registration Officer at Carmarthenshire County Council will also be available as will the Electoral Team willing to assist those that attend the elections office in person. This service will become live from January 2023. Once you received your VAC, it will be valid for ten years from date of issue.

The deadline to apply for a VAC will be 5pm, six working days before the date of election. You can apply for a certificate here.

You will need to show your approved photo ID or VAC at polling stations from May 2023 onwards at Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Postal and Proxy Voters

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 to be issued with a ballot paper.

Frequently asked questions

We have put some FAQ’s together regarding Voter ID.

Further Changes as a result of the Elections Act 2022

There are further changes that will come into force for Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections. However, once we know more about those changes, we will update this page.

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