Voters are being urged to ensure they have photo ID if the want to have their say in the upcoming general election.

Cheshire goes to the polls on July 4 but this is the first general election where everyone will be required to prove they are who they say they are when they go to the polling station.

There are 22 acceptable forms of photo ID, including passports, driving licences, older or Disabled Person's bus passes.

Anyone who does not have photo ID can apply for a document called called a voter authority certificate. The deadline to apply for a voter authority certificate to use in the general election is 5pm on Wednesday, June 26.

The new rules came into force last year with the Government claiming it would help prevent electoral fraud. Fraud cases in the UK are relatively rare.

There were 1,462 cases of alleged electoral fraud reported to police between 2019 and 2023, according to the Electoral Commission. Of these, 10 led to convictions, and the police issued four cautions. Most resulted in the police taking no further action.

The Electoral Commission has called on the government to expand the list of accepted ID and to allow voters to cast their ballot without ID if another registered voter could vouch for their identity.

Acceptable forms of ID can be found here.

Voter authority certificates can be applied for here.