VOTERS will need to bring ID cards to the polls for elections from this year under new laws across England, Scotland and Wales.

Sedgemoor District Council has encouraged residents to check they have an acceptable form of photo ID before they next vote in-person at a polling station.

Although there are no scheduled elections in the Sedgemoor area this year, it is worth checking now that your ID will be accepted.

Acceptable forms of photo ID will include:

A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, and EEA state or a Commonwealth country

A driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state

A biometric immigration document

Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)

Blue badge

National identity card issued by an EEA state

Older Person's Bus Pass

Disabled Person's Bus Pass

Oyster 60+ Card

Freedom Pass

Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland

60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales

Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales

Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person's SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

War Disablement SmartPass or Ward Disabled SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Voter Authority Certificate or a temporary Voter Authority Certificate

If your photo ID has expired, it will still be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness to you.

Get free photo ID for voting

If you do not have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, you can able to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate in person, by post or online.

This is a free photo ID document specific for the purposes of voting.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by visiting www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.

You vote by post

If you vote by post, you do not need to provide voter ID.

You vote by proxy

If your proxy votes on your behalf at the polling station, they will be asked to show their photo ID. They will not be asked to show any ID for you.