PlummyJan 19, 2023
\ˈthē-ˈˈärd-ˌvärk\

You will need photo ID to vote in person in this year's local elections on 4th May.
If you don't have a driving licence, passport or other accepted ID you can apply for a free Citizen Card using the code FREEVOTERID
#StopVoterSuppression
https://www.citizencard.com/

ADDENDUM: There is also a Govt operated free card that you can apply for, for voting purposes only... https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate (h/t to @symroe for the pointer).

CitizenCard - UK Photo ID card & Proof Of Age

Get your national photo ID and proof of age card - apply online for a UK ID card today. Trusted identity cards since 1999 bear Home Office and police-approved PASS hologram.

CitizenCard
Jan 19, 2023 at 12:59pmWeb
Show threadSym RoeJan 19, 2023
@theaardvark that is an option, but they're a private company who also sell cards. There's a government service people can also use for free https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’)

Apply for photo ID to vote (Voter Authority Certificate) in some elections and referendums in Great Britain if you do not have an accepted form of ID.

GOV.UK
Show threadAnn 🧡 (she/her)Jan 19, 2023

@symroe @theaardvark This, and also postal votes.

Do you know if there's a website folks can be directed to that helps with postal votes specifically?

This page doesn't give any info at all on how to send a completed application to your local authority that I can see 😔

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote

Apply for a postal vote (paper forms)

Use this form to apply to vote by post. You'll need to send the completed form to your local Electoral Registration Office.

GOV.UK
Show threadAnn 🧡 (she/her)Jan 19, 2023

@symroe @theaardvark To answer my own question, the Electoral Commission has a postcode lookup along with how to fill in the postal vote form.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/apply-vote-post

Voting by post

Find out about voting by post in UK elections

Electoral Commission UK
Show threadSym RoeJan 19, 2023

@agvbergin @theaardvark yep! FYI, I run that postcode lookup for the commission!

There have been other projects that auto fill the form too, but you still need to print and sign before sending. It's not ideal.

Did you know you can hand a postal vote in to a polling station without needing photo ID?

Show threadAnn 🧡 (she/her)Jan 19, 2023
@symroe @theaardvark I did, gonna make sure I tell my friends and family too.
Show threadGiles GoatJan 20, 2023

@theaardvark @symroe

Funny, coming from a country ( me ) where "everything can be scammed faster than light and more" and where you need "40 documents for anything" I just find it "absolutely normal" that someone asks me for an ID for such a thing like to vote.

But funny is our voting law says that "if the person is well know and recognized by the people at the voting station you don't need to exhibit an ID" or so it was .. oh well ..

Nowdays is worse ( continues )

Show threadGiles GoatJan 20, 2023

@theaardvark @symroe

You can't do anything it seems without a cell phone cause they want double-verification steps, you have to access certain things ONLY via some ( government ) apps, they need to send you once or twice "confirmation codes" plus stuff like passports ( and some ID cards too ) have biometrics ( your fingerprints ) in.

"You have seen NOTHING yet" ..

And still we have scams/scammers all over the places ..

But that's Italy for you :D ..

Show threadhaqJan 20, 2023
@theaardvark I asked them on birdsite a while back and you can already vote with the same ID you need to apply for a citizen card, so it's merely alternative privatised ID for people who already have government ID.