Voter ID: guidance for Londoners

You can use photo ID even if it's expired, as long as you're still recognisable from the photo. 

You can also use a valid:

• passport issued by the UK, EU or Commonwealth country
• provisional or full driving licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or European Economic Area (EEA)
• EEA identity card
• UK biometric residence permit
• PASS card (with hologram)
• defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
• Blue Badge
• older person's bus pass
• disabled person's bus pass
• Oyster 60+ card
• Freedom Pass
• free Voter Authority Certificate 

In all cases, your photo must still look like you.
 

You can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

To apply you'll need:

• a recent digital photo of yourself
• your date of birth
• National Insurance number (if you have one)

If you do not know your National Insurance number or do not have one, you can still apply. Your local council will contact you to confirm your identity another way, if you provide your contact details.
 

Find out what to do if your photo ID is lost, stolen or damaged before an election, so you can still vote.

You can get help with voter ID from:

• RNIB: provides guidance about blind and partially sighted voters
• Mencap: provides easy-read guides and specific support for people with learning disabilities about voting
• My vote my voice: provides resources about accessible voting to download and share
• The Electoral Commission: provides election accessibility guidance

If the name on your photo ID is different from your name on the electoral register, you'll need to bring proof of your name change (such as a marriage certificate) as well as your photo ID. 

You can also: 

• apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate in your registered name
• contact your local Electoral Registration Office to update your name on the electoral register

The name on your photo ID must be the same name that you used to register to vote. You do not need to show a photo ID that includes a gender marker. 

Apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate if you: 

• you do not have photo ID
• feel worried about using an existing form of photo ID with a gender marker
• are not sure if you still look like the photo on your ID 

A Voter Authority Certificate does not have a gender marker.

You can ask for your photo ID to be checked in private. You do not need to give a reason why. 

If you wear a face covering for religious or medical reasons, you'll need to briefly remove it so staff can check your photo ID matches your face. You can: 

• ask for this to be done in private
• ask for a staff member of your preferred gender
• put your face covering back on after the check 

You may not be able to vote if you do not remove your face covering so that staff can check your photo ID.

Contact your Electoral Registration Office if you:

• need help applying for a Voter Authority Certificate
• want to check if your photo ID will be accepted
• have any questions about voting with photo ID