Voters planning to take part in May's council elections will need to bring ID to the polling station as part of changes to national law.

Polls are being held this year to elect borough and district councillors in Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Stafford, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands and Tamworth.

The passing of the Elections Act 2022 means some differences to how polls are carried out from May 4 however. These include improving accessibility to elections for voters with additional needs, including a requirement for Returning Offices to take all reasonable steps to support those with disabilities in polling stations.

Photo ID will need to be shown by voters before they receive a ballot paper at polling stations. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a passport, driving licence, blue badge or bus passes issued to older or disabled people.

If a voter does not have a valid photo ID they will be able to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online, by post or in person from their council. Around 2% of people are expected to need this form of identification to be issued and applications opened last month (January 16) on the Government website.

Matt Powis, South Staffordshire Council's elections and executive support manager, told district councillors: "We will be starting a campaign over the next few weeks to make sure the electorate know there is a requirement for them to bring ID. At the moment we are having a discussion on polling cards and how they will need to be amended to include new information relating to voter ID.

"Potentially you are going to see a bigger polling card – instead of the usual A5 size it may be A4 to accommodate information – and new signage at a polling station. We're still understanding what the changes will mean for our stations."

In South Staffordshire around 1,700 residents are expected to need to apply for ID to vote. But concerns have been raised about how those unable to travel or without access to a computer or smartphone will be able to apply.

There were also questions asked at the latest Standards and Resources Committee meeting about whether polling stations will have female staff available to check the identity of women who wear face coverings in public for religious reasons.

Committee chairman Councillor Barry Bond said: "We are concerned about privacy and ID. It may be necessary for female staff to be present in polling stations if people need to remove a niqab (face veil) and we need to be able to provide a private area."

Councillor Penny Allen said: "There will be a number of older and vulnerable people in our area who don't have the required documentation and some may not be able to use a computer. Is there any thought being given to using library staff to take photos or are they going to have to provide a photo themselves or go to a special place?

"Some of these people may be disabled and not able to travel. I feel quite concerned we are disenfranchising people if we are not careful."

As well as changes at polling stations, some voters in South Staffordshire will be asked to go to a different venue following a review of polling districts, places and stations. This review, which is required every five years, was completed last month in South Staffordshire.

It follows changes to district and parish ward boundaries made after the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE)'s review of South Staffordshire. The number of district wards is set to reduce from 25 to 20 and changes are being made to parish wards in Great Wyrley, Penkridge, Perton and Wombourne.