The law requires you to produce one of the following forms of photographic identification when you vote in person at a polling station:
- UK, Ireland or EEA driving licence (photographic part) (provisional accepted)
- UK, Ireland or EU passport (including the Irish Passport Card) (note: EU passports are not accepted at UK Parliamentary elections)
- Translink Half Fare SmartPass
- Translink Senior SmartPass
- Translink 60+ SmartPass
- Translink War Disablement SmartPass
- Translink Registered Blind SmartPass
- Biometric Immigration Document
- Electoral Identity Card
The last option - the Electoral Identity Card - is solely for electors who have not got another means of photographic voter identification (see list above).
Most people do not need an Electoral Identity Card.
The Electoral Identity Card is provided for electors who have no other means of photographic voter identification (see list above).
You must be listed on the Electoral Register to apply for a card. To check if you are registered to vote at your address visit the Am I Registered page.
If you are not accurately listed on the Electoral Register or not registered to vote, then go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and register to vote.
Once you are accurately registered to vote you can apply online for an Electoral Identity Card here.
You can request a paper application form by using our Contact Us page and a form will be posted to your address.
You have 2 choices to validate your photograph/identity for your Electoral ID card.
- You can ask an Elected Representative (MP, MLA or Councillor) who is known to you or local to you to validate your photograph/identity. Your chosen Elected Representative will receive your name, address, photo & contact email solely to help validate your identity for an Electoral Identity Card. You must contact your Elected Representative to assist them in validating your application.
- Alternatively you can upload a picture of one of the five forms of acceptable documents - see options here and also below.
Acceptable documents
The Electoral Identity Card is for electors who have no other form of photo ID for voting at a future election.
For voting purposes your Passport/Driving Licence etc.. document does not need to be current. However your name on the Passport/Driving Licence etc... must be the same as your name on the Electoral Register and your photo must look like you. If this is not the case then you can apply for an Electoral Identity Card.
If you just require a second form of photo identity document (over and above a Passport/Driving Licence etc…), the following services are available:
- Post Office EasyID which can be applied for in branch or online at https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/easyid
- Citizen Card which can be applied for online at https://www.citizencard.com/
For voting purposes your Passport/Driving Licence etc.. document does not need to be current. However your name on the Passport/Driving Licence etc... must be the same as your name on the Electoral Register and your photo must look like you. If this is not the case then you can apply for an Electoral Identity Card.
The Electoral Identity Card has a single purpose which is to provide photographic identity for voting purposes.
The Electoral Office will not provide Electoral Identity Cards for purposes other than voter identification.
No.
The Electoral Identity Card is only available to electors who are registered to vote in Northern Ireland.
Hats or head coverings are not permitted in Electoral Identity Card photos except when worn for religious or medical reasons and only if the full facial features are visible.
It takes time to process your application.
If your application is successful you should allow up to six weeks to receive your Electoral Identity Card.
Expired cards are accepted to vote however your Electoral Identity Card or any other photographic ID used at polling stations must be of a good enough likeness to allow polling station staff to confirm your identity.
No.
The Electoral Identity Card is proof of your identity for voting and is not proof of your address. Your address is not printed on the Electoral Identity Card. You only need to update your Electoral Identity Card if you change your name or if your appearance changes significantly from the photo on the Electoral Identity Card.