It has been confirmed that Congleton residents will have to bring ID to the polling station for the first time. 

Cheshire East Council is having an election to decide their councillors for the next four years on May 4.

But if you wish to vote in it, to decide who will represent your Congleton ward, you will need to bring photo ID with you. 

Wannabe voters in Congleton should check if they have an accepted form of ID.

Previously you just needed to mention your name and address at the polling station.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA or Commonwealth provisional or passed drivers' licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. 

Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. However, paper driving licences that do not have a photo on will not be accepted. 

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online via the gov.uk website, or by completing a paper form. 

You on'y need to bring one eligible ID to the polling station. (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

You can also call the Council to get a Voter Authority Certificate, for those that don't have photo ID. However, you only have until April 25 to do this. (Almost ten days before the polls).

The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission's website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID, at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID. 

Ailsa Irvine, director of electoral administration and guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: "Anyone voting at a polling station in England this May will need to show photo ID before they can be given their ballot paper. It's important that everyone understands what types of ID they can use, and how to apply for free ID if they need it.

"You can find information about the new requirement and what to expect at the polling station on the Electoral Commission's website."

Dr Lorraine O'Donnell, Returning Officer at Cheshire East Council.

Dr Lorraine O'Donnell, Returning Officer at Cheshire East Council and its chief executive, said: "With elections taking place in Cheshire East on 4 May 2023, it is 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 either online or by completing a paper application form and sending this to Cheshire East Council's electoral services team. If you need any help with applying for the free ID or want to request an application form, contact the electoral services team on 0300 123 5016 or email [email protected]"

Anyone who wants to have their say in the elections this May must also be registered to vote. It only takes five minutes to register online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Voters wishing to apply to their council for free ID should first make sure they are registered to vote.

Eligible voters can, alternatively, vote by post. However you have to apply to do so by visiting the Electoral Commission website. 

Cheshire East Council's Westfields HQ in Sandbach. (Image - Cheshire East Council)

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

The Electoral Commission is yet to reveal how the ID will actually be checked, as to whether it will be scanned electronically or by eye. 

The confirmation comes three weeks after Cheshire East Council's Leader Cllr Sam Corcoran called for the government to postpone the plans.

He believed young people and others voters would be disenfranchised by the decision.

Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner echoed the same sentiment in a recent tweet "This Tory voter ID plan is completely unworkable, unnecessary, and set to lock millions out of voting," she said.

"It's an outrage they're spending yet more public money promoting disgraceful efforts to disenfranchise voters."

Congleton MP Fiona Bruce joined all her Conservative colleagues in voting to bring in the legislation for ID required to have your vote count. 

Following the June 2017 General Election, there were 1000 complaints to the electoral commission about people voting twice. 

Congleton's MP for the last 13 years voted to bring in the legislation which means you'll need to take photographic ID to the polling station. (Image - Gov.uk)

However the result of the investigation cannot be found online. And SNP MP Brendan O'Hara (SNP) recently expressed the incidence of personation was low saying, "voter fraud at polling stations barely reaches the height of minuscule."

Furthermore in the House of Lords last year, Lord Greenhalgh confirmed "The Government do not hold data on whether individual electors registered at more than one address have voted more than once in an election."

Countries such as Estonia and Ireland already employ this photo ID verification method.

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