Please note: Voter ID is required for all elections and referendums. Please see our Voter ID page for more information.
The UK government made significant changes to the UK electoral system from May 2023. The Elections Act 2022 contains several measures affecting:
- elections and the way we vote
- campaigning and the rules on campaign spending and funding
Summary of changes
More details of the changes are available on the Electoral Commission website via the following headings:
- Voter ID - Voters and proxies voting at polling stations must show photo identification (ID) before they can vote. People voting by post do not need to provide ID.
- Anonymous electors - Registered anonymous electors, who need to be protected for their personal safety, also need to apply for an Anonymous Elector’s Document (AED). The document does not contain any personal information. It contains your elector number indicating you are eligible to vote in an election.
- Anonymous electors voting at a polling station need to present both their Anonymous Elector’s Document (AED) and their anonymous poll card.
- Polling station accessibility - The Elections Act makes it easier for people with disabilities to vote.
- Postal voting - From 31 October 2023, postal vote applications must contain a National Insurance Number (NINo), or a reason if one is not provided. Postal vote applications will be valid for up to 3 years. The change to a 3-year application cycle began in January 2024.
- Proxy voting - From 31 October 2023, proxy vote applications must contain a National Insurance Number (NINo), or a reason if one is not provided. New proxy rules are that a person appointed as a proxy for someone else can only vote for up to 4 electors (up to 2 UK registered electors and up to 2 registered overseas electors).
- British overseas electors – The 15-year limit on overseas elector registrations was removed from January 2024. More information is available on our Voting when living or working overseas page.
- European Union citizens - The law has changed for EU citizens affecting which elections EU citizens can vote in and stand as a candidate in. More information is available on our Changes for EU citizens page.
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections - The voting system changed from the ‘supplementary voting system’ to ‘first past the post’ at the May 2024 election.
Read more about the changes on the Electoral Commission website.