Residents in North Lancashire have been informed of a law change meaning they must bring ID when voting in elections.
Lancaster City Council has advised that voters will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations, in a national law change coming into effect in May.
An Electoral Reform Society spokesperson said Voter ID is "the biggest change to how we vote in a generation".
"The Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station," said a post on Lancaster City Council's Facebook page.
"This new requirement will apply for the first time at the local elections on 4th May."
The Electoral Commission, the independent body which oversees elections, said Voter ID will apply to:
- Local elections
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
- UK parliamentary by-elections
- Recall petitions
From October 2023 the new law will also apply to UK General Elections.
The Electoral Commission said that people who do not have accepted photo ID can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the local elections in England is 5pm on Tuesday April 25.
You need to be registered to vote before you apply for a certificate.
When you register to vote, you’ll be asked whether you have photo ID or if you want to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
You can apply for a certificate either through the post or online here
If you need any help with applying for a Voter Authority Certificate or want to request an application form, contact your local council or call the Electoral Commission's helpline on 0800 328 0280.
The controversial legislation made its way through parliament last year, with opposition parties arguing it risked disenfranchising those without ID - who are often from harder to reach communities - and adding unnecessary barriers to democracy.
The Electoral Commission also warned ministers that bringing in the scheme by 2023 was neither "secure" nor "workable", according to a Freedom of Information request made by the Open Democracy website.
A government spokesperson said: "We cannot be complacent when it comes to ensuring our democracy remains secure.
"Everyone eligible to vote will have the opportunity to do so and 98 per cent of electors already have an accepted form of identification.
"Photo identification has been used in Northern Ireland elections since 2003 and we're working closely with the sector to support the rollout and funding the necessary equipment and staffing."
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