Residents hoping to cast their vote in the local council elections tomorrow are being urged to remember their photo ID when they head to their designated polling station - or be turned away.

Halton will be playing host to elections on Thursday, May 4, along with more than 230 other local authority areas up and down the country. But it will also be the first time that photo ID is required for all voters.

Anyone who does not show an acceptable form of ID will be turned away and will not be able to have their say in how the borough is governed. 

Anyone wishing to vote tomorrow will have to take one of the following with them, but it must be the original and not a photocopy.

  • Passport
  • Driving Licence
  • Blue badge
  • Older Person's Bus Pass
  • Disabled Person's Bus Pass
  • Oyster 60+ Card
  • Freedom Pass
  • Scottish National Entitlement Card
  • 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
  • Biometric immigration document
  • Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
  • National identity card issued by an EEA state
  • Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
  • Voter Authority Certificate
  • Anonymous Elector's Document

The Electoral Commission said photo ID can still be used if it is out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on the ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, is also urging people to treat polling station staff with 'patience and respect' as they implement the new system on the day.

Cllr Kevin Bentley, chairman of the LGA's People and Places Board, said: "Voting in a local election is really important in setting the future direction of your local community. However, we want to make sure that no one misses out on their chance to vote next month.

"As voters across the country receive their poll cards, make sure you check that you have approved ID and bring this to your local polling station when you vote.”

For more information visit here.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id