The UK Government has passed a law that will change the way you vote in Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections. This law is called the Elections Act 2022.
This law does not apply to Senedd, Cardiff Council and Community Council Elections. The legislation for these is set by Welsh Government.
Voting at polling stations
From May 2023, you will need to show an approved form of photo ID at polling stations when there is Parliamentary or Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
What photo ID you can use
You must show an approved form of photo ID, such as a passport or driver’s licence.
Only original documents are accepted. Scanned images or copies will not be accepted.
If your photo ID has expired, it will be accepted if the photograph is still a good likeness of you.
The most commonly used and accepted forms of ID include:
- Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA status or a Commonwealth country
- Photographic driver’s licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
- European Economic Area (EEA) photographic ID card
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (PASS card)
- Blue Badge
- Older Person’s Bus Pass
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
- Oyster 60+ Card
Alternatively, you can contact our Electoral Services team for help.
What to do if you do not have an approved form of ID
If you do not have an approved form of ID, you will need to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC).
Once you receive your VAC, it will have no expiry date. However, it is advised that you renew your VAC in 10 years to ensure the photo remains a true likeliness of you.
The deadline to apply for a VAC will be 5pm, six working days before the election date.
The next scheduled election in Cardiff where you will need to show photo ID or a VAC to vote will be the Police and Crime Commissioner Election in May 2024.
Voting by post or proxy
From May 2024, you will only be able to hand in 6 postal votes at a polling station. This includes your own vote.
If you hand in more than 6 postal votes, your vote will still be counted, but all the other votes will be rejected.
If you are a political campaigner, you are also banned from handling postal votes, unless:
- the vote is your own,
- the vote is from one of your close family members, or
- or the vote is from someone you care for.
If you are handing in postal votes, you will need to complete a Return of Postal Voting Documents form at the polling station or council office.
When completing the form, you will need to include:
- your name,
- your address, and
- the reason you are handing in other people's postal votes.
Your postal votes will be rejected if you do not complete the form properly, or to the authorising officer's satisfaction. This also applies to any votes that are given to the returning officer at County Hall.
Your vote will not be counted if you hand it into any other address, for example, one of our Hubs.
The secrecy requirements at a polling station also applies to any postal or proxy votes. It is an offence to:
- find out how somebody else has voted, or
- to tell others how somebody has voted.
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 photo ID. If they do not have photo ID, they will not be given the ballot paper.
Further changes to the electoral system
Contact us
If you need any help with your application, please contact us.
Electoral Services
Room 263, County Hall
Atlantic Wharf
Cardiff
CF10 4UW
Email: electoralservices@cardiff.gov.uk
Phone: 029 2087 2087