Which elections require photo ID?
Voters in Scotland need to show photo ID to vote at UK parliamentary elections, including general elections, by-elections and recall petitions.
You will not need to show photo ID to vote in Scottish Parliament elections or Scottish council elections.
Accepted forms of photo ID
You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.
- Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for concessionary travel (including the under 22s free buss travel pass) can be used when voting – as can a card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card), including the Young Scot National Entitlement Card.
- Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish Passport Card)
- Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
- 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
- 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
- Biometric immigration document
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
- Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
- Voter Authority Certificate
The video below explains the types of photo ID that are accepted at polling places in Scotland.
What do I do if I don’t have photo ID?
If you don’t have ID, you can apply for free voter ID known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You need to be registered to vote before you apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. Find out more about how to register to vote.
Find the full list of accepted photo ID on the Electoral Commission website.
Click here to find out more about voting in upcoming elections.