Are you registered to vote? Do you have voter ID?

The right to vote has been fought for and so it’s really important that we honour that and get out (or stay home) and vote where we can! But first we need to know we are registered to vote, and that we have the right ID – this is the first year you will need to prove who you are…

Registering to vote
Anyone who wants to vote must be registered to do so. If you’re unsure if you’re registered, you can check with electoral services on 01904 551007. They can also check to see if you’re registered for a postal vote or a proxy vote.

Photo ID
To vote, you will need a photographic ID, a list of some of the accepted forms is below and voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. A complete list is available from the Electoral Commission. If you don’t have photo ID, you can apply for a voter authority certificate, alternatively voter ID is not required for a postal votes.

Accepted ID include:

• a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
• a UK passport
• a Blue Badge
• an older person’s bus pass
• a disabled person’s bus pass

Free voter authority certificate
If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID, you no longer look like the photo on your ID, or the name on your photo ID is different to your name on the electoral register, you can apply for a free voter authority certificate.

It is free to apply and you’ll need a recent, digital photo of yourself and your National Insurance number. You will also need to have registered to vote before you can apply for the free voter ID.

You can apply online or request a paper form to apply by post by ringing the council on 01904 551007.

Postal vote
When applying for a postal vote, identity checks take place at the time of registering and again when postal votes are verified, so voter ID or a voter authority certificate are not required. To register for a postal vote, you will need to print off a form and return it to City of York Council by post. If you can’t print it off, the council can send a copy of the form to you.