The council told Printweek that the format for poll cards for electors attending the polling station issued by the council for the local elections was different to previous poll cards due to the need to include additional statutory information for voter ID.

It asked its printer, CFH, to create a format that would provide this information in an accessible way while keeping to the A5 overall dimension and visual of previous poll cards. The 4pp, one-piece product has a perforated edge to reveal the additional information. 

A spokesperson for the council told Printweek: “The format of the poll card is not prescribed but the printers consulted with the Electoral Commission to confirm the design met their requirements.

“Other councils may be using a different design for their poll cards – ultimately all must comply with the new legislation for a poll card to include additional information for voter ID.”

It said the print contract for elections is included with the East Herts print contract with CFH, which produced approximately 96,000 of this new style poll card for the council.

The spokesperson added the council intended to use the same format of poll card for all future elections.

Voters in England now need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections, including local elections, police and crime commissioner elections, UK parliamentary by-elections, and recall petitions. From October 2023 it will also apply to UK general elections.

The Guardian reported at the weekend that a group of democracy observers said more than 1% of voters were turned away from polling stations during the vote on 4 May because of ID requirements.