Warwickshire voters reminded to take photo ID to polling station
Residents can cast their vote today (4 July)
Warwickshire residents are being urged to have their say in the General Election – and to remember to take their photo ID.
Everyone who is registered to vote should have received a card giving details of the polling station where they can cast their vote today (4 July).
Polling stations are open from 7am till 10pm.
Postal votes have also been sent out to thousands of people across the county.
After the introduction of new legislation in 2022, those going to vote in polling stations will need to show an accepted form of photo ID to receive their ballot paper.
CEO of Warwick District Council and Returning Officer for Kenilworth & Southam and Warwick & Leamington, Chris Elliott, is urging people to cast their vote.
He said: “It is important that people vote because that's what our democracy depends upon. And you can hardly complain about what happens if you don't choose to use your chance to influence the outcome - and your vote does that. It's very easy.
“Secondly, if you are going out to polling stations to vote you will need a voter ID. So, this is on the back of new legislation which has come through designed to prevent electoral fraud. You can't take a photocopy of your passport or your driver's licence - you need the real thing.
“The handiest thing for a lot of people will be their driving licence. Your photo doesn't need to be absolutely up to date, but the identity on it needs to match your own. So, for example, if you've changed your name then the name on the ID needs to be what is on the electoral register. Particularly for younger voters, because we do have a lot of students in our area, your student union card isn’t considered appropriate voter ID.”
The forms of photo ID that are accepted include a UK passport or driving licence, a Blue Badge, older or disabled person’s bus pass, PASS card or Defence Identity Card.
The full list can be found here.