Local elections are taking place in May this year and this will be your chance to have a say on how things are done on Rochdale’s Council.

Tony said, “This year, the way people vote in elections will change. People are now required to bring photo ID to vote in person.

“But people can also vote from home by registering for a postal vote. Signing up is quick and easy. 

“Make sure your voice is heard and register for a postal vote today.”

You can register for a postal vote here.

If people wish to vote in person, the following forms of photo ID will be accepted at Polling Stations: 

•  Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country; 
•  Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
•  A 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 
•  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 

Expired photo ID will be accepted as long as the photo is a true likeness of the elector.

If you do not have any of the accepted photo ID, you can apply for a voter authority certificate – free of charge. You can either apply online form (https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate) or by submitting a paper application to Rochdale Council. The following information will need to be provided as part of the application: 
•  Name and address; 
•  Date of birth 
•  National Insurance number
•  A passport style photograph which is a true likeness of the elector

If you do not have, or do not know your national insurance number, you can provide another form of identification such as their birth certificate, a bank statement or utility bill. That document must include the elector’s full name as stated in the application. 

The deadline to apply for a voter authority certificate is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

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Notes for editors:-

• The Elections Act 2022 introduced provisions that require photographic identification to be shown before a ballot paper may be issued at a polling station at specific elections. The detailed secondary legislation bringing those provisions into force was approved by both Houses of Parliament in December 2022. The first elections that the new rules will apply to are the local government elections in England in May 2023.