How to vote as a trans person in the May 2026 local elections

Ahead of the local elections in May, the Electoral Commission has shared important guidance for trans and non-binary voters, including the ID they need to bring and the ways they can cast their ballot.

This year’s local elections will take place on on Thursday, 7 May, 2026 with 4,851 council seats up for grabs across 134 of England’s 317 councils.

The election includes:

• All seats contested in all 32 London boroughs, six country councils, six unitary authorities – including the newly-created East Surrey and West Surrey – 16 metropolitan districts and three district councils.
• A half of seats contested in seven district councils.
• A third of seats contested in, 12 unitary authorities, 16 metropolitan district and 38 district councils.

Once again at this election, voters must show photographic ID in order to be able to vote in polling stations.

Compulsory voter ID came into force under the Elections Act 2022, which introduced the requirement and means polling station staff now verify each voter’s name and photograph to ensure it matches what is on the electoral register.

The previous Conservative government said the change would protect the “integrity” of elections and prevent serious voter fraud.

However, the introduction of the requirement was – and still is – contentious, and some MPs, civil rights groups, unions and charities have labelled it a form of “voter suppression” for trans, Black and disabled voters given these groups are less likely to have usable photographic ID.

Data obtained by Stonewall and the LGBT Foundation previously found that nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of trans and 19 per cent of non-binary respondents said they do not own an ID that would be legally recognised. While research publish by Bristol University Press in 2025 found one in four trans people said they were less likely to vote following the introduction of voter ID.

To help prevent trans and non-binary voters being unnecessarily disenfranchised, PinkNews has sought clarification from the Electoral Commission – the organisation responsible for overseeing elections and promoting voter registration – on what ID is acceptable on 7 May, in the form of an easy-to-understand guide.

The following guidance was shared with PinkNews in March 2026.

This does not constitute legal advice and any further queries or concerns should be directed to the returning officer of your relevant council, the Electoral Commission or UK government help site.

Key dates for voters in 2026

• Deadline to register to vote: Monday 20 April
• Deadline to submit your application for a postal vote or a postal-proxy vote: 5pm on Tuesday 21 April
• Deadline to submit your application to vote by proxy: 5pm on Tuesday 28 April
• Deadline to apply for free voter ID: 5pm on Tuesday 28 April
• Polling day: Thursday 7 May.

Voter ID

At the local elections in May, voters going to polling stations will be required to bring photo ID to vote.

Voters can visit the Electoral Commission website to see all the types of ID that will be accepted.

Voters who do not have an accepted form of ID can apply for a free ID, called a Voter Authority Certificate.

Voter Authority Certificate

If people have concerns about using an ID they already have, for any reason, they can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

A Voter Authority Certificate does not have a gender marker.

Polling station staff will receive training on how to check ID sensitively and voters can have their ID checked in private.

For anyone who does not want to vote in person on 7 May, they can apply to vote by post or by proxy.

Voters can apply at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk or by completing a paper form and sending it to their local council. 

What happens if someone’s name on their ID does not match what is on the electoral register?

The name on a voter’s photographic ID, whether that is their own ID or the free ID issued by local councils, should be the same name they used to register to vote.

If someone has changed their name and has not yet updated their name on the electoral register, then they can apply to change their name on the register before the elections on 7 May.

They can contact their local council to do that and ask for the relevant forms. 

Can I be turned away if my ID photo no longer matches how I look in person?

If someone doesn’t have photo ID, feels worried about using an existing form of ID which has a gender marker, or isn’t sure whether they still look like the photo on their ID, they should apply for free voter ID.

The free ID does not have a gender marker.

Expired photo ID will be accepted if the photo remains a good enough likeness for polling station staff to be able to identify the voter.

Can I use a student card/Oyster card etc as ID?

No. Acceptable forms of ID – can be expired as long as voter recognisable – include:

• A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British Overseas Territory
• A passport or passport card issued by an EEA state (Opens in new window), or a country whose citizens are Commonwealth citizens
• A photocard driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
• A Blue Badge
• 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
• a National Entitlement Card issued by a local authority in Scotland
• 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
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric Immigration Documents, including eVisas
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran Card), including the digital Veteran Card
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector’s Document

What happens if I don’t have any ID?

You will not be allowed to vote without ID.

Do I need to take my Gender Recognition Certificate to my polling station with my ID?

You do not need to take your Gender Recognition Certificate to the polling station, however your photo ID needs to match the name that is on the electoral register and include a photo that is a good likeness of the voter.

You may want to contact your local elections team to check how your name appears on the register if you are unsure.

Information on the Electoral Commission’s work with trans and non-binary voters

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission said: “As part of our duty to inform the public about our electoral system, we work closely with partners who can help us support people from under-registered groups, and others facing barriers, to take part in our democracy. 

“We have worked with ‘trusted voices’ such as LGBT Consortium, Scottish Trans Alliance, LGBT Foundation, Gendered Intelligence and TransActual to understand more about the challenges facing trans and non-binary voters, and deliver projects and communications activity that address these challenges. 

“Partners have also helped us ensure our communications resources meet the needs of this audience, which are available on our website for anyone to use. These resources contain information which address partners’ concerns about the implications of the voter ID requirement for trans and non-binary people, including what personal information is included on the voter authority certificate, and what to expect when having your ID checked at a polling station.”