Local Elections will take place on Thursday 4 May 2023.
In our area, this means voting for new Councillors to represent our community on Hemsworth Town Council, as all seats / councillors are up for election.
Ferret is sure that by now, each and everyone of our readers is fully aware of just how important it is to not only vote, but vote to ensure the candidates are worthy of representing you for the next four years.
Due to changes in the law, to vote at a polling station, you will now need to bring photo ID.
Accepted forms of photo ID
You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.
• Passport
• Driving licence (this includes a provisional driving licence)
• A Blue Badge
• Older Person’s Bus Pass
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric immigration document
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector’s Document
You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.
Out of date photo ID
You can still use your photo ID if it’s out of date, as long as it looks like you.
The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID
You can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, if:
• you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID
• you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you
• you’re worried about using an existing form of ID for any other reason, such as the use of a gender marker
You need to register to vote before applying for a Voter Authority Certificate.
Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’)
Use this service to apply for a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’. You can use it to vote in person in some UK elections and referendums. You cannot use it as proof of identification for any other reason.
You only need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if:
• you do not have accepted photo ID
• you no longer look like the photo on your ID
• the name on your photo ID is different to your name on the electoral register
If the name on your photo ID is different, you can register to vote again or take a document with you to vote that proves that you have changed your name.
Check if you have accepted photo ID
Before you apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, check if you already have accepted photo ID and when you need it to vote.
Apply for photo ID to vote
It’s free to apply. 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.
As an alternative you can apply for a postal vote using this form:
You’ll need to send the completed form to your local Electoral Registration Office.
Please ensure you have the correct documentation to allow you to vote, and above all else, make your vote count this May…
Thank you for sharing this incredibly important information, Ferret
So ,so important people vote this year more than ever,there may be people who will need help to apply for photo ID or just to have what they have checked,could be a good idea if community centres,warm banks.food banks any where where people are meeting and attending if they could offer the help with applying for the voting ID for the parishioners and then everyone as the right and correct ID to VOTE.
Would expect Wmdc/ HTC let it be known to the residents either by email/public notice boards/flyers or other means about upcoming changes to the way we vote.