Residents are being reminded to register to vote and show an approved form of photo ID when they go to the polling stations in a couple of months.

Dorset Council councillors as well as town and Parish Councils as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner elections are all taking place on Thursday, May 2.

Following the Elections Act 2022, photographic identification is now a mandatory requirement for everyone voting at polling stations.

Residents will also need photo ID to vote at parliamentary general elections, expected to be called sometime later this year.

Various forms of photo ID are accepted, including a driving licence, passport, Older Person’s Bus Pass, a blue badge or Disabled Person’s Bus Pass. 

Residents can also use an expired ID as long as the photograph is still a good likeness.

For those without accepted photo ID, a free Voter Authority Certificate can be obtained online. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, April 24 to be processed in time for the  elections. The Voter Authority Certificate is valid for 10 years and is valid for all elections.

Jonathan Mair, Director of Legal and Democratic at Dorset Council, said: “With elections taking place in Dorset on 2 May 2024, it is important that people who want to vote at polling stations have an accepted form of ID.

“We want everyone to be able to exercise their right to vote and we urge people to remember to take their photo ID with them when they go to their polling station, or if they don’t have one, apply now for a free Voter Authority Certificate.”

To cast a vote in the upcoming elections, residents must be registered by Tuesday, April 16, 

For those not already registered, this can be done on the government’s website. Voters only need to register once, unless they have changed their name or address.

For postal voting there is no need for people to provide a photo ID, but residents will need to give their National Insurance number and date of birth.

Once your postal vote is set up, whenever an election, referendum or poll at which you are entitled to vote is called, you will be sent a postal poll card giving details of the forthcoming election, referendum or poll.  This will be followed by a postal vote pack.

For further guidance, contact the Electoral services team via email at elections@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or by phone on 01305 838299.