For the first time, residents in Torbay will need to show photo ID to vote at this year’s local elections.

Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote on 4 May by checking they have an accepted form of ID.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA drivers’ licence and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass.

Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online (known as a Voter Authority Certificate) or by downloading an application from that website to send in.

More information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

Anne-Marie Bond, Returning Officer at Torbay Council, said: “With elections taking place in Torbay on 4 May, it’s important that those who want to vote make sure they have an accepted form of ID. It may seem early but checking now means you will be ready to vote in May. Residents who do not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for free ID.”

Anyone who wants to have their say in the elections this May must also be registered to vote. Most people are already registered, and if you have then there is no need to do anything further, but for those not registered, it only takes five minutes to register online.

Voters wishing to apply for the free Voter Authority Certificate will first need to make sure they are registered to vote.

The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on Monday 17 April 2023 and the deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

The requirement to show photo ID at the polling station is a new one, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act which was passed last year and comes into effect for the first time this May.