General Election voters warned over photo ID expiry date and ‘small difference’ rule
Voters heading to the polls at the July 4 General Election are being warned over two little known rules that could affect your ability to cast your ballot
There’s less than 48 hours to go until you can cast your vote in the General Election 2024 and up and down the country millions of people are preparing to go and choose the new government.
While Keir Starmer’s Labour Party leads the polls and is expected to score a comfortable majority, there are bound to be a few twists and turns in some swing seats up and down the UK as there always are.
But if you’re preparing to vote, this is the first General Election at which you must bring valid Photo ID in order to be able to cast your vote.
And those using one of the accepted forms of ID from the list below are being warned over two little known rules which affect the type of ID you can use.
Whether it’s an old person bus pass (but not a student bus pass, as that’s not allowed…), a passport, driving licence or a PASS card, there are rules you might not realise apply.
Firstly, the expiry date on the ID does not matter.
As the government website states: “The photo on your ID must look like you. You can still use your ID even if it has expired.”
Do not let someone at a polling station stop you from voting if your ID has expired, because it is still legal to vote with it.
Second, the name on your ID must match the name on the electoral register. If it doesn’t, you either have to register to vote again with your new details, or bring a document with you that proves you have changed your name - for example, a marriage certificate.
But the government adds that there’s a ‘small difference’ rule. It says: “Small differences do not matter. For example, if your ID says ‘Jim Smith’ instead of ‘James Smith’.”
What forms of ID are accepted to vote?
You’ll need one of the following types of photo ID to vote:
a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
a driving licence issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
a UK passport
a passport issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
a Blue Badge
a biometric residence permit (BRP)
a Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
a national identity card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
a Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
a Voter Authority Certificate
an Anonymous Elector’s Document
You can also use one of the following travel passes as photo ID when you vote:
an Oyster 60+ card
a Freedom Pass
a Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC)
a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
