On the 4th of May 2023, you must bring photo ID with you to vote at a polling station.

You can use your passport, driving license, blue badge and many other photo IDs (even if they’re out of date!)

If you don’t have any photo ID already, you have until 25th April to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online or in person.

There are no changes for postal voters – you can change to be a postal voter up until the 18th of April

Accepted photo ID for voting in elections

• 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 (this includes a provisional driving licence)
• Blue badge
• Certain concessionary travel cards 
• Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) 
• Biometric Immigration document 
• Defence identity card 
• Certain national identity cards
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland

If you have a form of accepted photo ID which is out of date, you can still use it to vote at a polling station if it still looks like you.

You will only need to show one form of photo ID, but it needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.

Apply for a free voter ID document

If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.  You can apply at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate – you will need to provide a recent digital photo of your head and shoulders, with your face uncovered.

If you need help and support to apply online, local libraries are holding support sessions where staff will be on hand with mobile devices to walk you through the application process and help you take and upload a photograph. Sessions at libraries in Manchester Withington are every week at:

Chorlton Library, Manchester Road, Chorlton, M21 9PN

Thursday: 1.30 – 3.30pm

Didsbury Library, 692 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, M20 2DN

Tuesday: 1.30 – 3.30pm

Withington Library, 410 Wilmslow Road, Withington, M20 3BN

Monday: 1.30 – 3.30pm

You can also attend the Customer Service Centre at the Manchester Town Hall to get help with taking and uploading a photograph.   

Applying for a postal vote

Postal votes are not affected by new rules on photo ID and mean you can send your vote in ahead of polling day.

You will need to go online to download a postal vote application form from www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote

You will then need to send the form back to esu@manchester.gov.uk or send it by post to:

Electoral Registration Officer
Electoral Services Unit
Manchester City Council
Lawton Street
Openshaw
Manchester M11 2EZ

Read more about the requirements here