Malvern residents will for the first time need to show photo ID to vote at this year’s local elections.

Residents are being urged to check they have an accepted form of photo ID ahead of polling day on Thursday, May 4 to make sure they can cast their vote.

Accepted forms of ID including a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport, a driving licence issued by the UK, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state, as well as a blue badge or an older person’s bus pass.

Voters will be able to use out-of-date ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

A number of IDs that won’t be accepted, including photo ID cards issued by a workplace (including the NHS and local councils) and student cards without a PASS hologram.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online.

The deadline to apply for the Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) election is 5pm on April 25, but residents are being urged to apply early if they need to.

People will need to be registered to vote first before they apply. This can be done online following the links on MHDC’s elections page.

The requirement to show photo ID at a polling station was introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act, which was passed last year and comes into effect for the first time this May. 

Andy Baldwin, returning officer for Malvern Hills District Council, said: “Residents will be electing a whole new council in May as well as representatives on town and parish councils across the district.

“Although it may seem a long way away, I urge people to check now that they have the required form of photo ID to make sure they can vote in May.”

This year’s Malvern Hills District Council election will be the first held under new ward boundaries, which means the name of the electoral ward people live in or where they usually go to vote may change.

Poll cards will be issued towards the end of March. Residents are urged to check them for the location of their polling station and more information on the photo ID requirement.