Highland voters urged to prepare for upcoming UK general election

Residents in the two Highland Constituencies – Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire are being urged to prepare ahead of the UK parliamentary general election taking place on Thursday 4 July.

Anyone who wants to have their say in the UK general election must be registered to vote by Tuesday 18 June. It only takes five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

For the first time, voters will need to show photographic ID to vote in a UK general election. Residents are being advised to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of ID.

Accepted forms of ID include a passport, driving licence, older persons or disabled persons bus pass, and Young Scot card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for free ID online or by contacting their local electoral registration office. The deadline for applying ahead of the UK general election is 5pm Wednesday 26 June. Voters wishing to apply should first make sure they are registered to vote.

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission, Scotland said: “It is important that those who want to vote at the UK general election are registered to vote by the deadline, and have an accepted form of photo ID. We are urging voters to understand what types of ID they can use, and how to apply for free ID if they need it. Checking now rather than later means you will be ready when it’s time to vote.

“You can find more information about the ID requirement, including the full list of accepted ID and what to expect at the polling place, on the Electoral Commission’s website.”

Returning Officer for the two Highland Constituencies, Derek Brown, Chief Executive of The Highland Council added: “Residents who do not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for free ID either online or by completing a paper application form and sending this to the Highland electoral registration office. If you need any help with applying for the free ID or want to request an application form, email ero@highland.gov.uk or call 0800 393 783.”

The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID.

Voters also have the choice to vote by post or proxy. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm Wednesday 19 June. The deadline for a proxy vote is 5pm Wednesday 26 June. For information on elections in their area, how to register to vote or how to apply by post or by proxy, voters can visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter.

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