Photographic voter ID

From May 2023 all voters will need to show photo ID to vote in person in a polling station for local elections and general by-elections.

There are local elections in Worthing on 4th May 2023, (but not for voters in Durrington and Northbrook wards due to the way the councillors are elected in these wards or for Adur Council).

Voting in person in a polling station

You will have to show photo ID when you vote at a polling station. This new rule has been put in place by the government, and will come into force for the local elections on the 4th May 2023.

Voters at polling stations will have to show one of the forms of ID accepted under the law. These include:

  • British, EEA (European Economic Area) or Commonwealth passport
  • A driving licence issued in the UK, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
  • Older person's bus pass
  • Disabled bus pass
  • Blue parking badge
  • ID with a PASS mark
  • MoD defence identity card
  • Biometric immigration document
  • ID card issued by an EEA state

For more information and the full list of acceptable forms of photo ID, please see :

Expired forms of identification can still be used in a polling station as long as it is still a good likeness of yourself.

If you do not have the relevant ID, then you'll need to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate instead:

Anyone who cannot apply online can contact 01903 221069 or email elections@adur-worthing.gov.uk to organise completing a paper form and arrange an appointment with a member of our team to take a photograph to be used for a temporary voter authority certificate for the election in May.

Please note:

  • The deadline for applying for a certificate is 5pm on Tuesday the 25th April 2023 for the May election
  • You will not be able to vote at a Polling Station without the relevant photo ID

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Voting by post

People choosing to vote by post will not need a photo ID. Anyone can apply to vote by post - no special reason is needed.

For more information, and to apply for a postal vote, please see:

Please note:

  • The deadline for applying for a postal vote for the May election is 5pm on Tuesday 18th April 2023.

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Voting by proxy

Voters will not need to show photo ID in order to apply or vote by proxy. However, the person who is your proxy will need to show their photo ID at the polling station.

For more information, and to apply for a proxy vote, please see:

Please note:

  • The deadline for applying for a postal vote for the May election is 5pm on Tuesday 25th April 2023.

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For more information regarding Voter ID

Why are these changes are happening?

The requirement to show photograph identity documents was included in the Elections Act 2022. The legislation requires polling station electors to show identification at all elections in England.

For more information regarding Voter ID, please see:

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Page last updated: 24 January 2023

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