Bring Photo ID to Vote

Individuals who wish to vote in person, including those acting as a proxy on behalf of another individual, will be required to produce an accepted form of photographic ID to prove their identity before they will be issued with a ballot paper.

You’ll need ID to vote in:

• UK parliamentary elections, including general elections and by-elections
• Recall of MP petitions in England, Scotland and Wales
• Local elections in England (including councils, mayors, the Greater London Authority and parishes)
• Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales
• Neighbourhood planning referendums in England
• Local authority referendums in England (including Council Tax increase referendums)

• a passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British Overseas Territory
• a passport or passport card issued by an EEA state, or a country whose citizens are Commonwealth citizens
• a driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
• a biometric immigration document, including eVisas
• an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• a Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• a Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran Card)
• a Blue Badge
• a national identity card issued by an EEA state
• an Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
• a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
• a 60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London
• a Freedom Pass
• a Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass)
• a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• a Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• an Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland 

ID can be current or expired, as long as the photograph is still a good likeness.

If you do not have an acceptable form of photo ID you can apply for a free voter ID document known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

These certificates are produced specifically for election purposes and cannot be used anywhere other than as ID for voting.

The certificate will be presented in an A4 paper-based format and will display the following:

• Your name
• Your photograph
• Date of issue / expiry date
• The appropriate identifier (e.g a code of 20 numbers or letters which is allocated to each Certificate)
• The words ‘issued by the Electoral Registration Officer appointed by (local authority name e.g Mid Sussex District Council)
• The renewal date (these certificates will be valid for a period of 10 years)

The deadline to apply for these certificates is 5pm, 6 working days before polling day.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate via one of the following methods:

• Online via the GOV.UK website here
• via a paper application form, a form is available for download at the end of this page
• in writing by providing the necessary information
• in person

NOTE: We cannot accept applications via the telephone as personal identifiers (e.g signatures) are required as part of this process.

You must be registered to vote or have recently made an application to register to vote in order to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

If you're registered to vote anonymously and want to vote in person, you'll need to apply for an Anonymous Elector’s Document.

This document must be shown alongside your poll card at the polling station in order to cast your vote.

An Anonymous Elector’s Document has the words ‘Elector’s Document’ written on the top, and does not refer to your status as being registered to vote anonymously. 

An Anonymous Elector’s Document includes:

• the date of issue
• your photograph 
• your electoral number (which is the number which will appear on the electoral register instead of the voter’s name and address)
• The appropriate identifier (e.g a code of 20 numbers or letters which is allocated to each Document)

You can only make an application for an Anonymous Electors Document via post, please contact the Electoral Services Team using the details at the end of this page for further information.

NOTE: We cannot accept applications via the telephone as personal identifiers (e.g signatures) are required as part of this process.

You must be registered to vote anonymously or have recently made an application to register to vote in order to apply for an Anonymous Electors Document.

Voter Authority Certificate Application Form

Tel: 01444-477003
Email: elections@midsussex.gov.uk