No accepted voter ID? Get a free Voter Authority Certificate

By GlobeBids News Desk
Guidance checked: 17 August 2026

People voting in person at UK parliamentary elections and specified elections in England must show accepted photo identification. Check the Electoral Commission’s list before applying for anything: an expired document may still be accepted if its photograph remains a recognisable likeness. If you have no suitable document, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

Check whether you already have accepted photo ID

The Electoral Commission’s accepted-ID list includes specified passports, driving licences, travel passes and other documents. Requirements differ between document types, so use the complete official list rather than relying on a general category or an old checklist.

An accepted document can be used after its expiry date when the photograph still looks like you. Check that the name on it is suitable for use with your electoral registration details and that you can take the original document to the polling station.

Who can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

The certificate is intended for eligible voters who do not have accepted photo ID. It may also be relevant when a voter no longer resembles the photograph on an existing document or cannot use it under the official rules.

You must also be registered to vote. Electoral registration and the certificate application are separate processes: obtaining a certificate does not add your name to the electoral register. Complete any necessary registration in time as well as meeting the certificate deadline.

The certificate is solely for proving identity when voting. It should not be presented or described as general-purpose identification.

How to apply through GOV.UK

Use the GOV.UK Voter Authority Certificate service. There is no application charge.

Prepare the following information before starting:

• Your name, home address and date of birth
• Your National Insurance number, if you have one
• A recent photograph that meets the application requirements
• Alternative supporting information if requested because you do not know or do not have a National Insurance number

Applications can be made online. Voters who need help or a paper form should contact their local electoral registration office.

Check the deadline for your election

The standard certificate deadline is 5pm, six working days before polling day, but voters should confirm the date shown for their specific election. Registration to vote has its own deadline, and weekends or public holidays can affect how working days are counted.

Apply early enough to resolve any photograph or identity-evidence problem. Once the certificate arrives, keep it safe and take it to the polling station when voting in person.

Source: Electoral Commission