You generally do not need your polling card to vote—as long as you’re registered, you can still vote at your polling station by giving your name and address (the polling card is mainly for telling you where/how to vote).[1][5]
What’s changed / what you should bring instead
- Polling card: helpful, but not required; if you don’t have it, you can still be issued a ballot after your details are checked.[5][1]
- Photo ID (UK in-person voting): for in-person voting, you typically need an accepted form of photographic ID; your polling card is not accepted as ID.[1][5]
If you don’t have your polling card
- You can still go to your local polling station and ask to vote—bring whatever accepted ID you have, and provide your name/address for verification.[5][1]
If you tell me which country you’re voting in (England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) and whether it’s a local election or general election, I can tailor the guidance (especially for the ID requirements).[1][5]
Sources
An overview of voting in the UK, including voting in person, postal and proxy voting, and voting if you're abroad.
www.gov.ukA guide for journalists on the local elections in England in May 2023
www.electoralcommission.org.ukEONI - Electoral Office for Northern Ireland
www.eoni.org.ukNormal poll card. Poll cards. Content of poll cards in the local elections.
www.rochdale.gov.ukYou now need to show photo ID when voting in person at a polling station or if you are a proxy voter and voting on behalf of someone else. Postal voters do not need to show ID. You may already have a form of ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following: You can also: Poll cards are sent out in two waves:
www.eastriding.gov.ukPoll cards will be sent to existing electors from 28 March 2025. You do not need your poll card to vote. You will need to give your name to the polling station officers and present an accepted form of Voter ID when you go to your polling station. You will then be issued your ballot paper.
www.lambeth.gov.ukLocal elections are taking place for 136 local authorities on 7 May, including some of the largest cities in the country and the whole of London.Can I still register to vote? The deadline for voter…
www.independent.co.ukIf you want to vote in the election but don't have a polling card, don't worry, you can vote without it
www.moneysavingexpert.com