Poll card letters remind voters to bring photo ID at May local elections
Information on the new voter photo ID requirement for the 2023 local elections will feature on poll card letters. The letters are now starting to be delivered to registered voters.
The letter makes it clear that voters must show photo ID to polling station staff to cast their vote at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. It follows UK-wide legislation introduced last year by the Government and approved by Parliament.
There is a full list of accepted photo ID on the back of the letter. The list includes passports, driving licences, biometric immigration documents and some concessionary travel passes. The full list is also available on Wyre Forest District Council’s website www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/voterid
The letter explains that voters can use their photo ID if it is out of date, as long as the photo is still a good likeness. Only original documents will be accepted and the polling card letter is not an accepted form of ID.
Anyone who does not have an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. The easiest way to do this is online at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. Anyone without access to the internet can apply by post. They should contact the Hub on 01562 732928 for a form. The deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.
Postal voters are not affected by the new voter ID requirements. They will only receive a poll card and not a letter. Anyone wishing to vote by post and who has not already registered to do so can apply on the council’s website www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/postalvote. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April. To vote by proxy, when you trust someone to vote on your behalf, voters should register before 5pm on Tuesday 25 April. Further information about proxy voting is available at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/proxyvote
To vote in the upcoming elections, residents must be registered to vote by Monday 17 April 2023. Anyone not currently registered can do this in a few minutes at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Ian Miller, Wyre Forest District Council’s Returning Officer, said:
“We are urging everyone to be prepared for the elections by making sure they are registered and have an accepted form of photo ID if they want to vote in person at a polling station.
“The polling card letter has all the key details on what form of identification you need to bring and where your polling station is. Postal voters do not need photo ID and anyone can chose to vote by post.
“Voters who do not have an accepted form of photo ID have until 5pm on Tuesday 25 April to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. I would encourage anyone who requires one of these to apply as soon as possible.”