Sandwell residents who plan to cast their vote at a polling station on Thursday 2 May are reminded to check that they have an accepted form of photo ID.
Forms of photo ID that will be accepted at the polling station include:
- a passport
- a photo driving licence (including a provisional licence)
- an older person’s or disabled person’s bus pass
- an identity card with the PASS hologram
- a Blue Badge
- a biometric immigration document and some other forms of official ID.
- a Voter Authority Certificate (a free form of ID to use at the polling station).
If you are using a bus pass for ID, please check carefully if it will be accepted by visiting the Electoral Commission website or the Sandwell Council website. A young person's bus pass is not considered accepted photo ID.
Expired forms of photo ID – such as an expired passport - will be accepted as long as the photo still looks like you.
A full list of accepted forms of photo ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website.
Anyone without accepted photo ID or a Voter Authority Certificate will not be issued with a ballot paper and will not be able to cast their vote. Voters who don’t take their ID with them are welcome to return later with photo ID to vote. Anyone who wishes to have their identity checked in private can do so behind a privacy screen, and all polling stations will have at least one female member of staff.
There are three elections taking place on Thursday 2 May – the Local Elections, the West Midlands Mayoral Election and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Election.
There are 24 seats up for election in Sandwell’s Local Elections.
Sandwell Council’s Returning Officer, Shokat Lal, said: “I’d encourage everyone who intends to vote at a polling station in the elections on 2 May to check now that they have an accepted form of photo ID.
“Please check in advance that you have your photo ID and know where it is so that you are ready to take it with you to vote.
“Your poll card will tell you if your polling station has changed, and you can also check this on the council website.”
Full details about this year’s elections can be found on our elections section of the website.
Find out more about photo ID
Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm.
For further assistance call the council’s Voter ID Helpline on 0121 569 6999 or call the elections team on 0121 569 3244.
The following polling stations have changed for some voters this year:
Changes to polling stations in Oldbury
- Some voters who previously voted at Langley Swimming Centre will vote at The Pavilion, Barnford Park, and others will now vote at Sandwell Aquatics Centre, Smethwick.
- Some voters who previously voted at Our Lady and St Huberts School will now vote at The Pavilion, Barnford Park.
Changes to polling stations in Smethwick
- Voters who previously voted at a temporary hut at Your Vets will now vote at Sandwell Aquatics Centre, Londonderry Lane.
- Voters who previously voted at the small building at Hadley Stadium will now vote at the Hadley Stadium Main Building, Wilson Road.
Changes to polling stations in Cradley Heath
- Voters who previously voted at Haden Hill Leisure Centre will now vote at Haden Hill House Museum, Entrance via Lee Road.
Changes to polling stations in Wednesbury
- Voters who previously voted at Tameside Primary Academy will now vote at Open Heaven Church, Price Road Gospel Hall, Price Road.
- Voters who previously voted at St Bartholomew’s Church Hall will now vote at Wednesbury Library, Walsall Street.
Changes to polling stations in Great Barr
- Voters who previously voted at Q3 Academy will now vote at Great Barr War Memorial Hall, corner of Chapel Lane and Birmingham Road.
Changes to polling stations in West Bromwich
- Voters who previously voted at the Mercure Hotel will now vote at Beeches Road Methodist Church, Beeches Road.
- Voters who previously voted at the Kuumba Centre will now vote at Kenrick Park Community Centre, (rear entrance,) Glover Street.
- Voters who previously voted at St Philips Church will now vote at a temporary hut on Beeches Road, opposite the church.
- Voters who previously voted at West Bromwich Town Hall will now vote at Central Library.