Voter ID

Voter ID requirements

From May 2023, all voters will be required to show an accepted form of photographic identification (photo ID) at a polling station before they are given a ballot paper.

This will affect all voters across Hastings and St Leonards who vote in person or by proxy. You are not required to provide photo ID for postal voting.

Photo ID you can use

Voters must bring a suitable form of photographic ID to their polling station. Acceptable forms of photo ID will include:

• Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
• Photographic driver’s licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (including provisional)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Biometric immigration document
• An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (PASS card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• A Blue Badge
• Older Person’s Bus Pass
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person's SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Electors Document

Only original documents are accepted; scanned images or copies will not be accepted. However, if your photo ID has expired it will be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness to you.

No suitable photo ID?

If you do not have any of the accepted photo ID, and you want to vote at the polling station, you will need to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free photographic identification document specific for the purposes of voting.

You will be able to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate in person, by post or online through GOV.UK We recommend that you apply for a Voter Authority Certificate in good time. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm, six working days before an election.

Please note, you must also be registered to vote in order to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificates, or valid photo identification will not be allowed to vote on the day.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate through the GOV.UK website or download a printable application form by using the links below. We will accept scanned copies of applications for Voter Authority Certificates via email to electoralservices@hastings.gov.uk.

• Apply online for a Voter Authority Certificate
• Download printable Voter Authority Certificate application form (.pdf)

Alternatively, if you would like a paper copy of the application form sent to you in the post, please contact the elections team via email to electoralservices@hastings.gov.uk or by calling 01424 451087.

If you are unable to submit an application using one of the methods above and require assistance, please email or call to book an appointment with one of our officers at Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, TN34 3UY.

Postal and Proxy Voters

Postal voters will not be affected and will be issued with their postal ballot papers as usual. If you choose to vote by proxy then the person who you have trusted to vote on your behalf will have to take their own identification to be issued with a ballot paper.

Frequently asked questions

We have put some FAQs together. You can read them below:

• Frequently asked questions about voter ID requirements