Campaigns and Hubs Don't Lose Your Vote - Voter ID Hub Voter ID | What's changing? Voting in UK parliamentary elections, local elections, and the elections for Mayor of London and London Assembly is changing. The biggest change to the way we vote is the introduction of photo Voter ID. Voters must now present photo identification to vote at polling stations in elections. These new rules apply to upcoming elections in 2024, such as the Mayor of London and London Assembly Elections in May 2024 and a potential general election in Autumn 2024. When arriving at a polling station, your photo ID will be checked before you can fill in a ballot Only certain forms of photo ID can be used to vote. Student photo ID cards, for instance, can’t be used in elections If you fail to present an accepted form of photo Voter ID, or don’t have any photo ID, then you will not be allowed to cast your vote You can still vote by post without using a photo Voter ID Photo Voter ID is a completely new requirement. In previous elections, voters have only needed to provide their name and address at polling stations. This is why it’s important to make sure you have an accepted photo Voter ID before the next election. This change to the law is permanent and applies to all future elections. Our hub is here to help you cast your ballot. LGBTQ+ people may be uniquely affected by the changes to the law. Below you can find information about: What photo ID can I use to vote? Applying for photo ID Get free photo ID - Voter Authority Certificate Advice for trans and gender nonconforming people Advice for young LGBTQ+ people Registering to vote Your rights Voter photo ID Drop-ins FAQs Campaign materials Language translations What else has changed? The legislation (a set of laws passed by parliament) that introduced photo Voter ID is called the 2022 Elections Act and it also includes other changes to election law: A maximum period of three years on voters’ application to hold a postal vote. Voters will need to re-apply at the end of that time. Until after the May 2024 elections in London the voting rights of EU Londoners in local elections will remain unchanged. However, this might change in the future when they are no longer automatically able to vote in local elections, referendums, and mayoral elections. These rights are retained by EU citizens who arrived in the UK before January 1, 2021, those with “leave to remain”, or those from countries with reciprocal agreements with the UK. For those who don’t have an accepted form of photo ID to vote, a new form of free photo Voter ID for elections is being introduced, called the Voter Authority Certificate, which is valid for 10 years. More support will be provided to disabled voters, and anyone over the age of 18 can now accompany a disabled person to voteThe 15-year limit on voting rights for those UK citizens living abroad has been removed. This will take effect from January 2024. Previously, a person could act as a proxy for an unlimited number of close relatives and two other people. Now voters are limited to acting as a proxy for two UK- based voters, regardless of their relationship. Anyone voting on behalf of UK voters who live overseas can act as a proxy for up to four people. Postal and proxy vote application forms are now available online* To vote by proxy, you can apply online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-voteTo vote by post, you can apply online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote *If you cannot apply online, you can download and complete application forms on the same pages, (find link under “Other ways to apply”) The voter registration online user journey has changed. At the end, the ‘register to vote’ application form no longer links directly to the postal application option. You now need to prove your identity when applying for postal and proxy voting. You will not need to provide a photo ID to vote by post, but there are other identification checks, including verification of your signature and date of birth. Supported by the Greater London Authority, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE. Printed and promoted by LGBT HERO, Unit 74, The Link, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ