Residents in Midlothian are being offered help ensuring they have the proper ID to vote in next month’s general election.
Midlothian Council is holding drop in sessions for people who do not have accepted photo IDs which will be required to be shown at polling stations when the nation votes on July 4.
The sessions will provide people with help applying for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) which can be used as an alternative.
Photo IDs are required to vote in UK General elections and by-elections in Scotland after the law was changed two years ago but are not required at Scottish Parliament or local authority elections.
They can take the form of driving licences, passports, Blue Badges and Scottish National Entitlement Cards.
Anyone who does not have an accepted ID, has until June 26 to apply for the VAC if they want to vote in next month’s election.
The first drop in was held last night at Penicuik Library with further sessions planed at Loanhead Library on Tuesday, June 11 between 2pm and 3pm, Newbattle Library, on Tuesday, June 11 between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, and Dalkeith Library on Thursday, June 13 between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.
Anyone can go along and will need to bring their National Insurance number with them to receive help registering.
Midlothian’s sitting MP Owen Thompson is standing for re-election in the seat which he regained from Scottish Labour in 2019 after losing it in 2017 by just over 800 votes.
This time around Scottish Labour has announced charity executive Kirsty McNeil as their candidate for the seat with former Scottish Borders councillor Keith Cockburn standing for the Scottish Conservatives and Ross Laird for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
A full list of candidates is expected following the deadline to register closing at 4pm today.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
