News Voters MUST take photo ID to polling station
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is reminding everyone who is going to a polling station on 4 May that they MUST take a form of photographic identification with them so that they can vote at the local elections.
If they don’t have an accepted form of photo ID they can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate but should do that straight away as applications close at 5pm on Tuesday 25 April. Everyone must also be registered in order to vote, and to receive a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline for registering to vote is Monday 17 April.
A wide range of photographic identification will be accepted at polling stations which include:
- Driver’s licences
- Passports
- Some concessionary travel passes
- PASS cards
- Ministry of Defence identity cards
- Photocard parking permits issued as part of the Blue Badge scheme
- Free Voter Cards, provided by local authorities.
Expired photographic identification will also be accepted if the photograph is of a good enough likeness to allow polling station staff to confirm the identity of the holder.
More information regarding Voter ID is available in this MBC video: Voter ID: Are You Ready? - YouTube
Angela Woodhouse, MBC Returning Officer said:
The need for everyone who votes in person to bring Voter ID with them to the polling station is a big change for the upcoming local election. MBC wants to make sure that everyone who has the right to vote can do so and we're asking them to check they have suitable ID now. If they don't they can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate but should do that straight away as applications close on Tuesday 25 April.
Maidstone is holding local elections on Thursday 4 May and in order to vote, you must be registered, the deadline to register is 17 April. It only takes around five minutes, register here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
The Elections Act 2022 also means that from May 2023 voters across Britain will need to show photo ID to be able to cast their ballot in person. Anyone who is registered but does not have one of the approved types of photo ID only has until 25 April to apply to get a free Voter Authority Certificate.
More information on Voter ID and applications for the Voter Authority Certificate can be made using the UK Gov Website: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.
A third of Maidstone’s 55 seats are up for election, and Polling stations across the borough will open on Thursday 4 May for people to cast their votes between 7am and 10pm on polling day. The count will take place on Friday 5 May with results being made available later that day.
The UK has very low levels of proven electoral fraud but the new policy – which is part of the Elections Act 2022 has been introduced to give the public more confidence in voting and stamp out any potential fraud taking place. According to Electoral Commission public opinion research, two-thirds of people say they would feel more confident in the security of the voting system if there was a requirement to show photo ID.
To find out more about voter photo ID and applying for a Voter Authority Certificate please go to: www.electoralcommission.org.uk
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