Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Local elections 2019 Any MNers in an pilot area that requires voter ID.

38 replies

HelenaDove · 02/05/2019 20:10

How did it go. It seemed to go seamlessly for us. Although it does seem like they are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/30/voter-id-trial-local-elections

OP posts:
lborolass · 02/05/2019 20:23

Me, I've never taken my card before but did today obviously, the couple in front of me didn't have their cards but were clutching their driving licences for ID, the man behind had his card.

I asked the tellers if it was making a difference, they said too early to say I went at 8am.

Personally I think it will reduce turnout, school drop off parents won't call in if they don't have ID with them, the disorgansied will be excluded, people who don't know about it will be turned away and may never bother to vote again.

ITA, sledeghammer to crack a nut

Original poster
HelenaDove · 02/05/2019 20:25

I have no driving licence or passport. I had to use our HB letter which one of them spent a good time perusing.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelenaDove · 02/05/2019 20:25

Excellent points I agree.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Politics
lborolass · 02/05/2019 20:26

Also, my area is, imo, very unlikely to have election fraud, I have no idea why it was chosen. There was widespread local outrage about non-recyclable reminders being attached to bins in an effort to raise awareness, which tbf it probably did as everyone said it was a stupid way to do it

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/05/2019 20:44

I’ve always taken my card with me.

Original poster
HelenaDove · 02/05/2019 20:45

Fluffy in the pilot areas you need more than that.

OP posts:
Iwantacookie · 02/05/2019 20:48

I didn't no about this. Luckily I had my bag with me which has my driving licence but no-one asked for id. Tbh as I gave my name and address I wonder what would of happened if I walked back in and used my neighbours name and address.

lborolass · 02/05/2019 20:49

If you're not in a trial area you would have no reason to know about it, I'm right on the border of the area and it has caused local confusion and misinformation.

Redshoeblueshoe · 02/05/2019 20:51

I thought the article implied that your voting card was enough

Redshoeblueshoe · 02/05/2019 20:53

DH thought we should swap cards but insist that we were using the right ones.
If I hadn't been under the weather I could do that

lborolass · 02/05/2019 20:54

Your card is enough, extra ID is for if you don't have your card with you

lborolass · 02/05/2019 20:55

I don't understand redshoes, why would you do that?

TalkinPaece · 02/05/2019 20:56

iborolas
Your card is enough, extra ID is for if you don't have your card with you
WRONG
In the ID areas you have to have extra ID

lborolass · 02/05/2019 20:58

Not in mine talkinpeace, as I said above, I only needed a card maybe different areas are trialling different ways of doing it. Definitely no extra ID here

Redshoeblueshoe · 02/05/2019 21:02

I've re-read the article, it says your polling card is enough. 2 pieces of ID if you don't have your card.
Iboro I think he wanted to see if the staff were woke

lborolass · 02/05/2019 21:02

I hadn't read the article linked, I can now see it does say the ID requirements vary by area

SmarmyMrMime · 02/05/2019 21:03

In my area it's either one photo ID from a list of 10 documents, or 2 non-photo from a list, one of which must have your address such as the polling card or a bill.

After the staggering ineptitude of our council in recent years, I'm not surprised that it's been identified as an area with electoral fraud as I can't believe so many people would actually have chosen to vote for those muppets in for multiple years!

SauvignonBlanche · 02/05/2019 21:04

I only needed a card
You don’t need your card if you’re not in an ID trial area.

lborolass · 02/05/2019 21:05

OK, I see what you mean redshoes, no idea what they do if they aren't sure the card belongs to the person in front of them, maybe they would ask for extra ID as well to double check

Mystrader · 02/05/2019 21:07

I only found out last year that photo ID wasn't required to vote in England ( is it the same in Scotland and Wales?). Here in NI we have always needed photo ID. You can even apply for an electoral identity card if you don't have a passport/ driving license.

Seems so bizarre that people wouldn't have to probe their identity to vote.

Mystrader · 02/05/2019 21:08

*prove (really hope no probes were involved)

Redshoeblueshoe · 02/05/2019 21:11

I currently don't have photo id, I wouldn't be happy about being disenfranchised because of it

lborolass · 02/05/2019 21:14

I do have photo ID but don't carry it around with me, if I'd left the house without my card and only had one chance to vote I'd be pretty pissed off to be turned away. Another reason I don't think this is the best way to tackle fraud

GarthFunkel · 02/05/2019 21:50

Photo ID area here but if you didn't have anything from the list you could apply in advance for a voter ID card.

Our polling station was collating data on how many of which type of photo ID people were using. My neighbour was most disgruntled his railcard had been classified as a bus pass Grin But they didn't take any notice of my driving licence - it did seem a bit cursory. DH went later and there was an issue with someone having a different address on their driving licence to the one on their voting card, so the later shift might have taken it more seriously.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/05/2019 21:54

They only asked for our voting cards.