QUESTIONS have been asked about what ID will be needed to vote ahead of this year’s full council elections in Bracknell.
All of Bracknell Forest Council will be voted in at elections in May and this will be the first year where people will be required to show photo ID before voting.
The change comes after the passage of the Elections Act 2022.
Ahead of the election campaign, questions about what would be adequate ID were asked at a full meeting of Bracknell Forest Council.
Councillor Robert McLean (Conservative, Warfield Harvest Ride) asked: “Following the introduction of the Elections Act 2022, what steps will the Council be taking to prepare residents for the need to provide photo identity documents in order to be able to vote?
“What system will be in place to allow those without suitable documents to apply for an ‘electoral identity document’?”
Cllr John Harrison (Conservative, Binfield with Warfield), executive member for culture, delivery and public protection replied: “From May 4, 2023, voters will need to show photo ID at polling stations.
“The Electoral Commission has launched a public awareness campaign on Monday [January 9] and the Electoral Commission website sets out all the information regarding voter ID in an easy-to-read format including what photo ID is acceptable and what to do if somebody does not have an acceptable photo ID.
“It must be the original version and not a photocopy.
“Out-of-date photo ID can be used as long as it looks like the person it’s supposed to be, and the name is the same as the person it’s supposed to be, so there is some flexibility.”
He added that the council’s team is receiving training on managing the requirement for ID at polling stations, which will cover whether local cards such as the Bracknell Forest e+ card will be accepted once the Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) is launched.
Applications for a photo VAC are live on the government website.
These applications close at 5pm on April 25, with paper applications also being available from the government site.
READ MORE: Changes to ward boundary maps throughout Bracknell Forest explained
Cllr Tricia Brown (Labour, Priestwood and Garth) specifically asked whether it could be made clear that the Bracknell Forest e+ card is acceptable.
The card is a photo ID that can be used as a library, leisure and bus card, and has several other functions as well.
Cllr Harrison said whether they are acceptable will be made clear once the council’s election team has completed training for managing ID at polling stations.
The whole council elections will take place on Thursday, May 4.
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