There's still time to apply for free voter ID certificate ahead of local elections

There is still time for people eligible to vote in person in the upcoming local elections but do not have an acceptable form of voter ID to apply for a free voter authority certificate.

For the first time, people wishing to cast their vote at a polling station in the local elections on Thursday, 4 May will need to show an approved form of photo ID before they can be issued with a ballot paper.

The acceptable form of ID can include:

UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport

UK or EEA driver’s licence

an older person’s bus pass or disabled person’s bus pass

blue badge

The full list of accepted ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website – www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID and voters will be able to used expired ID as long as the photograph still bears a strong resemblance to the person.

But for those people who do not have a form of photo ID and wish to vote in person at a polling station, they can still apply for a free voter authority certificate, as long as the applicant has already registered to vote and is on the electoral register.

People have until 5pm on Tuesday, 25 April to apply for the free certificate on the Electoral Commission website – www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.

For those people who are unable to get to a polling station on Thursday, 4 May, there is the opportunity of nominating someone trustworthy to vote on their behalf – a proxy vote.

Applications for new proxy votes can be made up to 5pm on Tuesday, 25 April but the nominated proxy person will still need to show their own photo ID before being issued with a ballot paper.

The application form for a proxy vote can be found by going to www.eastriding.gov.uk/elections

* For more information about the local elections taking place on Thursday, 4 May, including the current list of candidates and previous election results, go to www.eastriding.gov.uk/elections