Have you got everything you need to vote?
All over 18’s can vote in England, but now we need to take the right ID to voting stations. We know many people with care experience have difficulty getting ID, so here’s what you need to be aware of.
Local council elections are coming up on Thursday 2 May 2024 - and voting rules have changed
The Election Act 2023 now requires voters to show ID at polling stations. That means that you can’t vote in the upcoming local elections unless you show a form of ID that’s on the Government’s ‘accepted’ list. This list includes:
- a UK passport
- a UK driving licence
- a PASS card
- a Blue Badge
- and more (check out the full list here).
We realise that many care-experienced young people may not have a form of Government-accepted ID, and we don’t want you to be turned away from voting.
Voting is your opportunity to influence who is in power and show what changes you want to see. The Government is the ‘corporate parent’ to all children in care and care leavers so it’s a great opportunity to make your voice heard and your vote count.
How to vote if you’re worried about having the right ID…
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate
It’s free to apply on the Government website. You’ll need:
- a recent, digital photo of yourself
- your National Insurance number
You can still apply if you do not have a National Insurance number. You’ll need to provide other documents to prove your identity, for example, a birth certificate, bank statement and utility bill.
You’ll need to apply by 5pm on 24 April 2024 to get a Voter Authority Certificate for the 2 May 2024 elections.
Vote by post
Instead of going to the polling station, send your vote in the post.
Apply for a postal vote using a paper form. You need to send it to your local Electoral Registration Office.
For the Local Elections on 2 May, the deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April. You must also be registered to vote by 11:59pm on Tuesday 16 April.
Vote by proxy
If you can’t vote in person, someone can vote for you. You can tell them who to vote for. This is called a proxy vote.
You can only apply for a proxy vote under certain circumstances, including:
- being away on polling day
- having a medical issue or disability
- not being able to vote in person because of work or military service
You can ask anyone to act as your proxy, as long as they are registered to vote and it’s for a type of election they’re allowed to vote in.
You can be a proxy for two people at the same election, or more if the extra people are close relatives.
Apply for a proxy vote using a paper form. You need to send it to your local Electoral Registration Office.
Local elections deadline: apply by 17:00 on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
Make sure you're sorted so you can vote on Thursday 2 May
More information on voting
The Greater London Authority have a resource pack on Voter ID and Voter Registration. #NoVoteNoVoice