Voting at Elections

Voters in Wales need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.

This applies to:

• UK parliamentary elections, including general elections, by-elections and recall petitions
• Police and Crime Commissioner elections

Voters in Wales will not need to show photo ID to vote at a polling station at Senedd elections or local council elections.

Accepted forms of photo ID

You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.

International travel

• 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 (including an Irish Passport Card) 

Driving and Parking

• Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
• A Blue Badge

Local travel

• Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
• Oyster 60+ Card funded by the funded by the UK Government
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass)
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

Other government issued documents

• Biometric immigration document
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector's Document

You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.

If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID

You can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate; https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

You need to register to vote before applying for a Voter Authority Certificate. 

Postal Vote and Proxy Changes

You can now apply online to vote by post and for some types of proxy vote. These changes apply to UK Parliament elections, including by-elections and recall petitions, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

You will be asked to provide your National Insurance number when applying, to prove your identity.

There are limits to how many people a voter can act as a proxy for. This means you can only act as a proxy for two people living in the UK. If you act as a proxy for people living overseas, you can act as proxy for up to four people but only two of these can be based in the UK.

The changes do not apply to Senedd and local council elections in Wales. For these elections you will still need to complete a paper application form.

If you are handing in your postal vote pack then you will be required to complete an additional form, otherwise your vote will be rejected.

For more information visit electoralcommission.org/waystovote or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.

Council and Rhyl Golf Club set to collaborate on new Club House

The Council and Rhyl Golf Club have been working collaboratively to ensure that the Central Prestatyn Coastal Defence Scheme will be delivered on time, with the finish date still on course for the end of next year.

The Scheme has had a significant impact on the Golf Club and the Golf Course, and the Council have been working with the Golf Club to ensure that this impact is minimised as much as possible, ensuring that the Club can continue operating after the completion of the project.

As a direct result of the Flood Defence Scheme, the Club needs a new Club House, the cost of which will be covered by the original agreed budget for the Scheme. This is possible because sufficient contingency was included in the project budget to cover costs associated with the Club House. The initial plan was to refurbish the existing Club House, but that was deemed impractical following more detailed inspections of the building.

85% of the funding for the Coastal Defence Scheme has come from Welsh Government, with 15% match funding coming from the Council.

The Council will continue to work together with the Golf Club and its partners to ensure that the Coastal Defence scheme is delivered to the planned deadline and within budget and to ensure that local communities are not adversely affected. This flood scheme will protect over 2,000 properties from potential floods and coastal erosion for the next 100 years.

The Council has maintained a good working relationship with Rhyl Golf Club throughout the construction period and appreciates that the work has had significant impact on the club and its operating capacity. We would like to thank the Club for their co-operation during this period.

We now look forward to working with them to complete this project as soon as possible, so that properties are protected from coastal flooding and normal operations can resume at the Club.

Dave Miller, Finance Director at Rhyl Golf Club said:

“This new Clubhouse will be a brilliant asset, with a number of benefits to the community in the area. It will be a community hub, with capabilities for functions, as well as an updated home for the golfers of Rhyl.

We thank the Council for their co-operation, and we look forward to welcoming our golfers back to play through this new Spring Season.”

Rhyl set to receive funding to support future projects