Eynsham Parish Council would like to remind residents that they will now need photo ID in order to be able to vote at a polling station in the local elections, scheduled for May.
This will also become a requirement for the general election, as and when that takes place, from October this year.
West Oxfordshire District Council has advised us that anyone attending a polling station to cast their vote will now need to provide an acceptable form of photo ID and are urging residents to check the suitability of their ID in the coming months in preparation for voting.
Accepted IDs include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass. Voters will be able to use an expired ID if they remain recognisable from the photo. The name on the ID should match the voters’ name as it appears on the Electoral Register. (You must also make sure you are registered to vote, which can be checked on the District Council website.)
If you don’t have a suitable photo ID, you are able to register for a free one online Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or by completing a paper form available from the District Council. It is advised to visit the Council to collect a form before Wednesday 25 April – but ideally as soon as possible – to allow sufficient time for processing.
This is the first time such a requirement has been made on voters, forming part of the Government’s Election Act passed in 2022. This requirement will not impact anyone voting by post but will affect proxy voters, who will need to show their own valid ID when voting on behalf of someone else.
Find out more details and ensure you are prepared by visiting the District Council website.