Elections Act 2022 - What you need to know
The Elections Act 2022 will make big changes to the way elections are run. One of the biggest changes is that you'll need to show photo identification (like a passport or driving licence) when you go to vote at a polling station.
Not all the changes have been announced yet, so this page is a summary of what we know so far. We'll update it when we know more. We expect that changes will be announced throughout 2022 and 2023, and the first changes will come into force for the elections in May 2023.
You can find out more about the Election Act on the Electoral Commission website.
Voter ID
The changes you will see
You'll have to show an official form of photo identification (ID) when you arrive at a polling station to vote. This means something like a passport or a driving licence. It must have a photograph of you on. A list of accepted forms of ID will appear on your poll card letter that will be sent to you ahead of any election.
If you do not have an official form of photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) from January 2023. Once applications for the Voter Authority Certificate are open, you'll find the link on this page.
When the changes come into force
These changes will come into force from the May 2023 elections.
Accessibility at polling stations
The changes you will see
Voters with disabilities will be given extra support at polling stations.
Anyone over the age of 18 will now be able to accompany a disabled voter at a polling station.
When the changes come into force
These changes will come into force after the May 2023 elections.
Absent voting (Postal and Proxy Votes)
Absent voting lets you vote in an election even if you can't get to the polling station - for example, you might be at work or on holiday on polling day, or you might have a medical condition or disability which means you'll find it hard to get to the polling station.
There are two types of absent voting - postal voting and proxy voting.
If you vote by post, your ballot paper will be sent to your specified address for you to fill in and send back by post. You can find out more about postal voting here and also on GOV.UK
If you vote by proxy, you appoint someone you trust to vote for you. You can find out more about proxy voting here and also on GOV.UK
The changes you’ll see
If you're applying for an absent vote, you'll need to provide proof of your identity by providing your date of birth and signature.
Currently this is done by post but scanned applications can also be accepted by email as long as the signature section has been competed by hand.
An online system will be set up which lets you apply for an absent vote online but you’ll still need to provide proof of your identity. Once this service is open, you’ll find the link on this page and the postal voting page.
The existing secrecy requirements will be extended to postal and proxy votes. You can find out more about the secrecy requirements on the Electoral Commission website.
Postal Voting
If you vote by post, you currently you are required provide a fresh signature every 5 years. This will change and you'll have to apply again every 3 years. We will contact you when this is required. This is to ensure we have an up-to-date signature as this is used to verify your vote at election time.
Political parties and campaigners will be banned from handling postal votes.
If you're handing in postal votes at a polling station, you will only be allowed to hand in a maximum of 6.
Proxy Voting
You will only be able to act as a proxy for up to 4 people. Of these, the maximum number who can be 'domestic electors' (voters living in the UK) is 2.
When the changes come into force
We expect that the online application service for absent votes will be available from July 2023.
We expect that the rules on secrecy and who can handle postal votes will come into force after the May 2023 elections, most likely in Autumn 2023.
The change to the three-yearly application process will be transitional (in other words, it will not affect everyone all at once), starting from January 2024.
We expect that the changes to handing in postal votes and the new proxy limit will come into force for elections in May 2024.
Rights of EU citizens
The changes you will see
EU citizens will no longer automatically be entitled to register, vote, or stand for election.
These changes will apply to:
- all local elections and referendums in England
- elections for council and combined authority mayors
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
Two groups of EU citizens will keep these rights: 'qualifying EU citizens' and 'EU citizens with retained rights'.
Qualifying EU citizens
These are EU citizens who -
- come from countries which have reciprocal agreements with the UK
- who have 'leave to remain' in the UK, or who do not need 'leave to remain' in the UK
Currently this means citizens from Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.
A reciprocal agreement means that the same rules apply in both the UK and that country. For example, a Spanish citizen in the UK could vote or stand for election in the UK, and a UK citizen in Spain could vote or stand for election in Spain.
EU citizens with retained rights
These are EU citizens who were living in the UK before 1 January 2021 (in other words, before the UK left the EU).
When the changes come into force
We expect that the changes will come into force by spring 2024.
