Work/Student Passes: Given the wide array of professional and educational organisations that provide photographic identification, it would not be difficult to create a form of identification for a non-existent organisation meaning these would be susceptible to fraud. However, some student cards are PASS accredited, and so would be accepted (e.g. the National Union of Students ‘TOTUM’ student card). All accredited PASS cards bear the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram.

Railcards: While a Railcard is considered a concessionary travel pass, the Government does not believe this would be an appropriate form of identification as it is insufficiently secure. Similarly, the 18+ Oyster card does not have a suitably secure application process for it to be used as photographic identification at polling stations (unlike the 60+ Oyster card, which has more rigorous processes).

No, photocopies of identification documents or pictures on mobile phones of identification documents will not be accepted as photo-editing software could be used to edit them, thus making them susceptible to fraudulent alteration.

NB: Some supporting documents for a name change, such as a wedding certificate, may be ‘certified copies’ and will be accepted in polling stations for the purpose of demonstrating a name change.

If your photographic identification has expired it will still be accepted so long as the photograph is still of good likeness of you, unless it is a temporary Voter Authority Certificate which is only valid for use on polling day.

The decision on whether an identification document bearing a different name or an alternative spelling of a name from the one on the register can be accepted will be at the discretion of the polling station staff, who must be satisfied that the identification provided is acceptable.

If your name has changed, for example through marriage, you may be required to provide further proof of identity, such as a marriage certificate, providing evidence of a name change. Please check your documents are up to date before you attend the polling station to avoid a wasted trip. 

Yes, there will be a private area in each polling station which will allow voters to have their form of identification to be viewed in private to do so. This will depend on the room or rooms being used as a polling station and may be through the use of privacy screens or, in others, using an existing partition or a separate room.

A mirror will also be available to enable people who wear face coverings to remove and replace them for the purpose of checking identification. 

However, we cannot guarantee that polling station staff will be of a specific gender, and it is not a mandatory requirement for there to be a specific gender poll clerk in polling station. However, if you wish a specific gender poll clerk to view your photographic identification, we will try to accommodate this. However, this may mean you need to wait if we need to bring a colleague to the station in order to verify your identification.  

You should be aware that if you refuse to comply with the vote identification check, you will not be given a ballot paper and will not be able to vote in the polling station.

In the unfortunate event that you lose all forms of identification before the deadline for applications for a Voter Authority Certificate has passed, or if your identification is stolen, destroyed or damaged beyond use, you may apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, up to six working days before polling day. 

If you lose your identification after the deadline for applications for Voter Authority Certificate, we able to allow the appointment of an emergency proxy for that polling day. 

If you turn up to a polling station with no acceptable photographic identification, you will be advised that you are unable to vote and asked to return with appropriate photographic identification.

The reason for this is if you do not provide an accepted form of identification, then there is no evidence that you are the person on the register. Therefore, it will not be appropriate for you to be issued with a tendered ballot paper.

The Presiding Officer is responsible for making the decision to refuse to provide a ballot paper and there will be no ability for an elector to appeal that decision on polling day.

As a proxy voter, you will need to produce your own photographic identification in the polling station in order to show that you are the named proxy, but you will not need to produce the identification of the elector on whose behalf you are voting. If you are a proxy voter and you do not have accepted photographic identification, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

No. You will not need to show any form of ID to hand in your own or another person's postal vote. 

You will go to the desk and tell the staff your name and address. They will ask you to provide your photographic identification. They will then give you your ballot papers. Take your ballot papers to a voting booth. Read the instructions in the booth and mark your ballot paper(s), fold them once so that nobody can see how you have voted. Then put your folded ballot papers into the appropriate ballot box(es).

Apply for a postal vote 

Apply for a Proxy vote.

The Voter Authority Certificate is expected to be an A4 sized, paper-based document displaying the elector’s full name and photograph, the date of issue (or the date on which it can be used, for temporary documents), the issuing local authority, an appropriate identifier, and a recommended renewal date (10 years after the date of issue). It will also contain inherent security features to ensure it is secure and to protect against fraud. Some of these features will be visible, such as the inclusion of a watermark, allowing polling station staff to clearly recognise it as a valid document.

Although you will need to register to vote at your new address, you will not need to request a new Voter Authority Certificate if you move house within Winchester or move to another local authority. You will be able to use your Voter Authority Certificate in all polls across Great Britain – not just in the local authority that issued the Voter Authority Certificate.

You will need to provide evidence identifying yourself – initially through providing your date of birth and National Insurance number. These details will then be matched against the Department for Work and Pensions’ records in order for your identity to be verified.

If these details are either not provided or do not match against the Department for Work and Pensions’ records, then we will be in contact to request some documentary evidence or an attestation so that we can manually verify your identity.

The Electoral Registration Officer will decide whether a Voter Authority Certificate should be issued. The Electoral Registration Officer must be satisfied that the person making the application is the person named in the application and that the applicant is both eligible and registered to vote.

You will be notified on whether your application has been approved or rejected. If your application has been approved, we will inform you of the delivery or collection arrangements. If your application has been rejected, we will inform you of the reasons for the refusal.

Every council will receive a high number of requests for a Voter Authority Certificate and our team will let you know whether your application is approved or rejected but will not be able to provide you with an update on when your certificate will be delivered.

You must direct all queries regarding applications to the Electoral Services Office by email ereg@winchester.gov.uk, phone 01962848125 or post to Electoral Services Unit, Freepost RTLH-LSAG-HASX, City Office, Colebrook Street, Winchester, Hants, SO23 9ZZ. We will contact you to let you know whether your application has been approved or rejected.

Your application for a Voter Authority Certificate may have been rejected if the Electoral Registration Officer is not satisfied that you are the person named in the application or you are not eligible or registered to vote, or if you have not provided any additional information when requested by the Electoral Registration Officer.

If your photograph does not meet the requirement, you will be required to provide another one. 

You may be asked to provide additional evidence to prove your identity for a Voter Authority Certificate application, documents such as a:

• Birth, adoption, marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Firearms certificate
• Non-photocard UK driving licence, or a driving licence granted other than in the UK or Crown Dependencies
• Record of bail
• Financial statement (such as a mortgage, bank or building society, credit card or pension statement)
• Council tax letter or statement
• Utility bill
• P45 or P60
• Benefits statement

You may also provide an attestation to verify your identity.

You cannot provide your passport or driving licence as additional evidence as these existing identifications can be used at a polling station. If you have one of these documents you do not need to have an Voter Authority Certificate and can use your driving licence or passport at the polling station on the day of poll.

A passport and/or driver’s licence will be accepted as proof of identity if applying for an Anonymous Elector’s Document, however, as Anonymous Electors can only use an Anonymous Elector’s Document in order to vote in person - they cannot use a form of identification with their name on it in the polling station.

You should contact the Electoral Services Office if you have not received your Voter Authority Certificate within 28 days of application.

If you have applied for a Voter Authority Certificate by the deadline but you have not received it on this date, then you should contact the Electoral Services Office. We will be able to issue you with a temporary Voter Authorisation Certificate, valid only for the specific polling day, which you will need to collect in person from the Council Offices.

We will notify you on where and at what times the temporary Voter Authority Certificate can be collected. 

For online applications you will be able to upload a photo during the application process. For paper application forms either a hardcopy photo is required, or you can supply an electronic image via email to us at ereg@winchester.gov.uk

The photo must meet the following standards:

• Must be in sharp focus and a colour photo
• Must show close-up of the head and shoulders, with nothing covering the face
• Must be looking straight at the camera
• Must have a plain facial expression
• No ‘redeye’, reflection, glare or shadows which obscure the face
• Eyes must be open and fully visible (no sunglasses or obscured by hair etc).
• No other objects or people to be in the photo
• Not wearing sunglasses or head coverings (except head coverings for medical or religious reasons)
• Taken against a plain light-coloured neutral background.

An application cannot be accepted until a suitable photo is provided. If the photo does not meet the standards outlined above, the applicant will be contacted and asked to provide a new photo.

As part of the online application process, you will be able to take a photo on a phone or other electronic device and upload it with your application.

For paper application forms either a hardcopy photo is required, or you can supply an electronic image via email to ereg@winchester.gov.uk

If you are unable to take a photo yourself, is there a trusted person you know who could take one on their phone, iPad or electronic device for you.

If there is no one who can take a photo for your application, council staff will be able to take a photo for you at our offices in Colebrook Street, Winchester. If you also need help with your application form staff will be able to help you complete your application on GOV.UK or a hardcopy form. Please get in touch on 01962 848125 or email ereg@winchester.gov.uk to book an appointment to come in for your free photo and/or application form.

If you are unable to take your photo or you don’t think it meets the photo standards, please get in touch with us to discuss this and the options available.

We can arrange to take a photo for you at the city offices if you would like to use this service, please book an appointment either by phone 01962 848125 or email ereg@winchester.gov.uk 

Any person you trust can help you apply either online or by paper form. The quickest and easiest way to apply is via GOV.UK and you’ll need to upload a photo from a phone, iPad or any electronic device as part of the application process. Remember you will need to have your National Insurance Number to hand too.