Residents reminded about photo ID rules ahead of the general election

The Thomas Waghorn statue in Chatham Published: Thursday, 20th June 2024 The general election is taking place on Thursday, 4 July. Residents are reminded that in order to vote at a polling station they will need to bring accepted photo ID with them to be able to vote. Voter ID A wide range of photo IDs will be accepted, including: passports, driving licences, and certain concessionary travel cards. The full list of acceptable photo IDs can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website. Even if the photo ID document is out of date it can still be used, as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of the voter. Anyone who doesn’t have one of the accepted forms of photo ID, or isn’t sure that their photo still looks like them, is encouraged to apply for a free ID document called a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline to apply for the free ID is 5pm on Wednesday, 26 June. Applicants must be registered to vote, and will need to provide their date of birth, National Insurance number, and a photograph with their application. To apply, residents can visit the government website or download a paper application form, which should be returned to: Medway Council, Electoral Services, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR. If residents need help filling out the paper application form they can call 01634 332099. Proxy Votes The requirement to show an accepted photo ID at a polling station includes residents who will be using a proxy vote. A proxy vote is when you nominate someone you trust to vote on your behalf. For proxy votes, the person voting on your behalf will need to show their accepted photo ID at the polling station. The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday, 26 June. Find out more about proxy votes and how to apply on our website. Find out more infromation about the general election.  News archive