Since May 2023, you have had to show photo ID to vote in person at many UK elections. The rules are not the same across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and a major change to who can vote is currently going through Parliament.
This guide explains what counts as accepted ID in 2026, how to get free ID if you do not have any, and what is changing soon.
Quick answer
You need an accepted form of photo ID to vote in person at a polling station in most UK elections. You only need to show one document, and it can be out of date as long as the photo still looks like you.
If you do not have accepted ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC). You do not need any ID to vote by post.
What most people get wrong
A few assumptions trip people up at the polling station, and they are easy to avoid once you know the rules.
The most common mistake is thinking expired ID is useless. It is not. An out-of-date passport or driving licence is fine, provided you are still recognisable in the photo.
People also assume the rules are identical everywhere. They are not. Scotland and Wales do not require ID for their own devolved elections, only for UK Parliamentary ones.
Two newer assumptions are now causing confusion. Many people believe 16-year-olds can already vote, or that a bank card counts as ID. Neither is true yet. Both are proposed in a Bill that has not become law.
How voter ID actually works
Whether you need ID depends on where you live and which election you are voting in.
In England, you must show accepted photo ID at every type of election. This covers UK General Elections, local council elections, mayoral elections, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
In Scotland, you only need ID for UK Parliamentary elections. You do not need it for Scottish Parliament elections or Scottish council elections.
In Wales, you need ID for UK Parliamentary elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. You do not need it for Senedd elections or Welsh local council elections.
In Northern Ireland, photo ID has been required for all elections since 2003, and ID of some form since 1985. You can use an Electoral Identity Card or another approved photo ID. Note that PASS cards are not accepted in Northern Ireland.
Accepted photo ID in 2026
You can use any one of the documents below. It must be the original, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone.
| Category | Accepted documents |
|---|---|
| International travel | UK passport, or one issued by the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or a British Overseas Territory; an EEA or Commonwealth passport or passport card |
| Driving | A photocard driving licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or an EEA state, including a provisional licence |
| Disability and concessions | Blue Badge; Older Person’s or Disabled Person’s Bus Pass; 60+ London Oyster photocard; Freedom Pass; Scottish National Entitlement Card; Welsh concessionary travel cards; Northern Ireland SmartPasses |
| Proof of age | An identity card carrying the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card) |
| Defence | Defence Identity Card (MOD Form 90); HM Armed Forces Veteran Card (MOD Form 100) |
| Immigration | Biometric immigration document, including an eVisa |
| Other documents | EEA national identity card; Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card; Voter Authority Certificate; Anonymous Elector’s Document |
The HM Armed Forces Veteran Card was added to the accepted list in 2025, so it is worth checking if you hold one and were not sure it counted.
Expired ID is accepted as long as the photo is still a good likeness of you. The address on your ID does not need to match where you currently live, but the name should match the name you used to register to vote.
What is changing: votes at 16 and bank-card ID
A significant change is moving through Parliament, but it does not affect how you vote today.
The Representation of the People Bill 2024-26 was introduced on 12 February 2026 and had its second reading on 2 March 2026. If it becomes law, it would lower the voting age to 16 for UK Parliamentary and other reserved elections, introduce automatic voter registration, and add UK-issued bank cards that show the holder’s name to the list of accepted ID.
It is important to be clear about the current position. None of this is law yet. The change did not apply to the May 2026 local elections, and bank cards are still not accepted as ID at a polling station.
The Government has said it intends the voting age change to be in place in time for the next General Election, which must be held by 2029. Until the Bill passes, you must be 18 to vote in reserved elections, and you still need one of the accepted documents listed above.
What to do if you do not have photo ID
If you do not hold any accepted ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC). This is a photo document issued by your local council specifically for voting.
You can apply online or by post. You will need a recent digital photo and your National Insurance number. If you do not have or know your National Insurance number, you can still apply by providing other proof of identity, or by asking someone to confirm your identity through an attestation.
You must be registered to vote before you apply. The deadline is 5pm on the sixth working day before polling day, so apply early to leave time for it to arrive.
A few details often reassure people. The VAC is completely free, it does not show your date of birth, it carries no gender marker, and it does not expire, although you are encouraged to renew it after around ten years.
Common problems and edge cases
Most issues at the polling station come down to a mismatch between your ID and the register, or ID arriving late.
If the name on your ID is different from the name on the electoral register, you may be turned away. This can happen after marriage or a change of name. If the registration deadline has passed, bring a document such as a marriage certificate that proves the change.
Small differences do not matter. If your ID says “Jim Smith” and the register says “James Smith”, that is fine.
If your Voter Authority Certificate does not arrive in time, or you lose it, you are not automatically locked out. You can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on polling day, and the person you appoint votes on your behalf using their own accepted ID.
If you are registered to vote anonymously, you cannot use ordinary ID. You will need an Anonymous Elector’s Document instead.
When to take action
Timing is what catches people out, so work backwards from polling day.
Register to vote first, because you cannot apply for a Voter Authority Certificate until you are on the register. Then apply for any VAC you need by 5pm on the sixth working day before the election.
If you would rather not show ID at all, apply for a postal vote well ahead of the postal vote deadline. No photo ID is required to vote by post.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an expired passport to vote?
Yes. An expired UK passport or driving licence is accepted, as long as the photo is still a good likeness of you.
Do I need ID to vote by post?
No. Photo ID is only required when you vote in person at a polling station. Postal votes do not need ID.
Can 16-year-olds vote in 2026?
Not in reserved elections. The Bill to lower the voting age to 16 has not become law, so you still need to be 18 to vote in UK Parliamentary elections and in English local elections. Scotland and Wales already allow 16-year-olds to vote in their own devolved and local elections.
Are bank cards accepted as voter ID yet?
No. Adding UK-issued bank cards to the accepted list is proposed in the Representation of the People Bill, but it is not yet law. You cannot use a bank card to vote in 2026.
What if my Voter Authority Certificate does not arrive in time?
You can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on polling day. The person you appoint votes for you using their own accepted photo ID.
Does my ID need to show my current address?
No. The address on your ID does not need to match where you live now. The name, however, should match the name you used to register to vote.
Next steps
- Proof of identity without a passport – GOVexplained
- Lost UK passport: how to report it and get a replacement – GOVexplained
- Proof of address: what counts and how to get it – GOVexplained