From May 2023 electors, 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 confirm their identity before they will be issued with a ballot paper at a polling station.

This will apply at:

• local elections in England
• Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England
• UK Parliamentary by-elections
• recall petitions

The requirement for photographic ID to be provided at UK Parliamentary General elections will only take effect for elections held after 5 October 2023.

The accepted forms of photographic ID are:

• passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country
• driving Licence Issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
• biometric immigration document
• identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (A PASS Card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• blue badge
• national identity card issued by an EEA State
• older person’s bus pass
• disabled person’s bus pass
• Oyster 60+ card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
• 60 and over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card Issued in Wales
• Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• Senior Smartpass issued in Northern Ireland
• Registered Blind Smartpass or Blind Person’s Smartpass issued in Northern Ireland
• War Disablement Smartpass issued in Northern Ireland
• 60+ Smartpass issued in Northern Ireland
• Half Fare Smartpass issued in Northern Ireland
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland

Expired photographic identification documents can still be used at the polling station, as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of the elector.

Voter Authority Certificates

Where an individual does not have or does not wish to use one of these accepted forms of photographic ID, they can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a document containing an elector’s name and photograph which can be obtained free of charge from their local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), following verification of an applicant’s identity.

For voters living in Chesterfield, the local Electoral Registration Officer is Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council and the Council’s Elections Team administer the Voter Authority Certificate process.

The Voter Authority Certificate cannot be used as proof of identity for any other purpose than for voting.

The Voter Authority Certificate is expected to be an A4 paper-based document, with appropriate security features, displaying only the elector’s name, photograph, date of issue, issuing local authority, an 'identifier' (that is an alphanumerical reference), and a recommended renewal date.

The deadline for applications for Voter Authority Certificates will be 5pm, six working days ahead of a poll. 

For applicants, the Voter Authority Certificate application service will consist of:

• a GOV.UK Voter Authority Certificate Service – an online application service, provided by central government on the GOV.UK website, where electors can submit their application for a Voter Authority Certificate online
• an alternative paper application form designed by the Electoral Commission, allowing electors to make their application for a Voter Authority Certificate on paper and either post or hand in the application to their ERO

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate on the Government website or request a paper form by calling the elections team on 01246 345806 or emailing elections@chesterfield.gov.uk.