Voter ID

Registered voters do not need photo ID to vote in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections on 7th May 2026. 

You can register online in just a few minutes at Register to vote - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In some elections, you will also need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations. This applies to UK Parliamentary Elections, including General Elections, by-elections and recall petitions.

There are several different types of photo ID which you can use in these circumstances:

• Passport issued by the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish passport card) 
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card) for example a Young Scot Card
• Driving licence issued by the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state 
• Blue Badge
• Scottish National Entitlement Card for concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under-22 bus pass)
• Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government 
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government 
• 60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London
• Freedom 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
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• Biometric immigration document
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland 

If you don’t have any of these forms of photo ID and want to vote in an election where photo ID is required, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. You can do this online at Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) – you just need your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number. 

If you can’t apply online you can contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01586 555300.

If you vote by post, you don’t need to use photo ID.  Again you can apply online at Apply for a postal vote. 

Find out more about voter ID requirements at Voter ID | Electoral Commission