Elections and Voting

Voter photo ID

From Thursday 4th May 2023, voters must show photo ID when voting at a polling station in local elections, UK Parliamentary by-elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. You will also need to show photo ID in general elections after October 2023.

This applies to this year’s local elections on 4th May.  

You do not need to provide photo ID if you are voting by post, or applying for a proxy vote (when someone else votes at a polling station on your behalf) although your proxy will need the required photo ID when they cast your vote at the polling station. Separate checks will be carried out in these circumstances.

Which forms of ID can I use to vote? 

You may already have photo ID that is acceptable. The document can be out of date – the important thing is that the photo on it still looks like you.

You can use any of the following: 

• Passport 
• Driving licence (including provisional licence) 
• Blue badge 
• Certain concessionary travel cards 
• Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) 
• Biometric immigration document 
• Defence identity card 
• Certain national identity cards 

For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit the Electoral Commission or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280. 

What if I don’t have an accepted form of photo ID?

If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.  

An easy to read guide on how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

Parliamentary constituency boundary changes

The deadline for commenting on the proposals has now passed and the consultation closed.

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) will now consider the results of the consultation before proceeding with its review.

The BCE is required by Parliament to undertake an independent and impartial review of all constituencies in England, to rebalance the number of electors in each constituency.

Constituency sizes currently vary widely due to population changes since the last boundary review. The new map proposed by the Commission will make sure each constituency has between 69,724 and 77,062 electors, so that each MP represents roughly the same number of electors.

The 2023 Boundary Review also requires that the number of constituencies in England increases from 533 to 543.

The current proposals are available to view via an interactive map

Community Governance Review – Worsthorne with Hurstwood Parish Council

We have been asked by Worsthorne with Hurstwood Parish Council to consider increasing the number of councillors on the parish council from seven to nine. The request was made because the parish council wishes to have fair representation within the parish and to allow it to take on more responsibility and events.

A meeting of the full Burnley Council recommended that a community governance review be carried out as per the timetable below.

Final recommendation

Following publication of the draft recommendation to increase the number of councillors on Worsthorne with Hurstwood Parish Council from seven to nine, one response was received as follows:

One borough councillor – no objections to make

Therefore the final recommendation for approval at the meeting of Burnley Council on 19th July 2023 is to increase the number of councillors on Worsthorne with Hurstwood Parish Council from seven to nine with effect from the next scheduled elections in May 2024.

Timetable for review