Residents in Westmorland and Furness are being urged to prepare ahead of the UK parliamentary general election taking place on Thursday 4 July.

For the first time in a UK parliamentary general election, voters will need to show photographic ID to vote.

Residents are advised to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of photographic ID.

Accepted forms of photographic ID include a:

• UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport;
• UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence;
• 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 photograph.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for free ID online at www.voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form.

The deadline for applying ahead of the general election is 5pm Wednesday 26 June.

Voters wishing to apply should first make sure they are registered to vote.

Linda Jones, Chief Legal and Monitoring Officer for Westmorland and Furness Council, said:

“It is important that those who wish to vote at the general election have an accepted form of photographic ID. We are urging voters to understand what types of ID they can use, so checking now rather than later means you will be ready when it’s time to vote.”

“You can also find more information about the ID requirement and what to expect at the polling station or on the Electoral Commission’s website.”

The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID