Local Elections are taking place across the UK today, from 7am until 10pm.

Today, 4 May, voters across the country will be heading to the polls to vote in the Local Elections, and it is the first time that Photographic Identification (Photo ID) will be required to vote since the implementation of The Elections Act 2022.

The Elections Act 2022 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, introduced to the House of Commons in July 2021, that received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022.

The Act makes photo identification compulsory for in-person voting in Great Britain for the first time

Accepted ID is:

• 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 
• Photocard driving licence (includes a provisional licence) issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or EEA state
• Biometric immigration document 
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• Blue Badge scheme photocard parking permit
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Older Person's Bus Pass / Concessionary Travel pass/card (in Lincolnshire, this is the Older person or Disability bus pass issued by Lincolnshire County Council)
• a Disabled Person's Bus Pass
• an Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Electoral Identity Card for Northern Ireland
• Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• 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
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland 

Expired ID can be used as long as likeness remains.

Residents will not be required to provide photo ID for voting by post.

If you don't have one of these accepted forms of Photo ID, it will be too late to get some to vote today. However, you can apply for one of the above forms of ID or a Voter Authentication Certificate online for next time.

To apply, you will need:

1. A passport quality photograph;
2. Your National Insurance Number; and
3. Your date of birth

Polling stations are open today, 7am until 10pm.

Find the location of your polling station on the voting card that will have come through the post.

Don't forget your ID.