Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced a number of changes coming to the way we vote, including allowing bank cards to be used as voter ID for voting.
This comes after the 2024 general election was the first time that voter ID was required in order to vote.
Labour hopes that allowing bank cards will help to ensure that eligible voters can exercise their right to do so, as well as using digital options to support voters and polling station staff, including allowing accepted IDs such as the Veteran Card and UK driving licence to be used at polling stations when they become available in digital format.
A new digital Voter Authority Certificate will also be created for those without a form of photo ID.
These changes come alongside the movie to allow 16-year-olds to vote, reducing the minimum age from 18.
“For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline,” said Ms Rayner. “We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change, and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.
“We cannot take our democracy for granted, and by protecting our elections from abuse and boosting participation we will strengthen the foundations of our society for the future.”
To combat foreign interference in UK elections, the Labour government is also introducing “major new changes” that close loopholes that allowed foreign donors via ‘shell companies’ to influence UK political parties.
New requirements on unincorporated associations will also mandate checks on donations over £500 to tackle foreign interference and protect UK democracy from those who attempt to undermine it.
Here’s a closer look at voting requirements in the UK and what you need to know.
How to register to vote
Firstly, you must register to vote.
According to the Electoral Commission, 18 per cent of London’s eligible adults were not on the electoral register in 2022.
Data showed that young people; black, Asian, minority ethnic and migrant Londoners, and private and social renters were all underrepresented on the electoral register.
The Greater London Authority has backed a motion to increase communication to get all voters registered in time for the election.
To register to vote, visit the Government’s website here.
You will receive a poll card with details of the upcoming election and where to vote.
What forms of ID will be accepted?
Voters in England must show photo identification to vote in some elections at polling stations.
This applies to:
The Electoral Commission has a list of accepted forms of ID, which includes:
Travel passes are also acceptable forms of ID, including the following:
You can still use your ID to vote if it has expired. However, it must look like you and bear your current legal name.
The move to introduce voter ID has been controversial, especially considering a study from September that showed one in four Londoners were in the dark about the new requirement.
The Government said the vast majority of voters easily voted in May’s local elections, when the requirement to show officially approved ID was introduced in England in the biggest change to in-person voting in 150 years.
Ministers said the change was needed to combat possible voter impersonation. Opponents stress there is barely any evidence of voter fraud in Britain, with only nine convictions out of tens of millions of ballots cast in the past five years.
What to do if you don’t have photo ID
You can apply for a voter authority certificate if you do not have an acceptable voter ID.
You can apply online with a recent digital photo of yourself and your national insurance number. If you don’t know your national insurance number (you can find a lost one here), you can use something else to identify yourself, such as a birth certificate, bank statement or utility bill.
Craig Westwood, director of communication, policy and research at the Electoral Commission, said: “The free ID ensures that everyone can take part in the general election, even if they don’t currently have an accepted form of photo ID.
“It is quick and easy to apply and there is information and support available from the Electoral Commission and your local authority.
“At every polling station, voters can ask to have their ID checked in private if they wish and polling station staff will check ID sensitively.”
