Is there such a thing as free photo ID?

[BertrandRussell]

And if there isn’t, how is it possible to argue that the Conservatives are not trying to restrict the right to vote, particularly to the young and the disadvantaged by insisting on it?

And if there is, let’s start making sure everyone knows about it ASAP!

If in your outrage you read the proposal instead of Twitter feeds you would have seen they are offering free ID, also bear in mind that the UK is an anomaly with regards to voter ID in Europe,and, that if your concerned about government spending then labours proposal of renationalised services is 4x GDP debt than a no deal Brexit should also concern you, but I suspect this will be nothing more than posters pretending we are turning into the third Reich as usual with all the critical thinking usually on display

“you would have seen they are offering free ID”
Are they? I agree I must have missed that- I’ll go and look..

Why is there a sudden need for photo ID for voting? Is there a problem with fraudulent votes?

Why is there a sudden need for photo ID for voting? Is there a problem with fraudulent votes?

Nope, but they know that it will be a hurdle to the marginalised and vulnerable - in other words, people who don't vote Conservative.

And it's not the cost that's the issue (well it is, but more about the disenfranchised often not having easy access to the correct documentation to procure an ID, as well as lacking the time and resources to pursue it). It's another way to make voting more difficult for those among whom voting levels are too low as it is.

There are plenty of people who have a real struggle finding someone to countersign their passport form.....

I do note that it’s going to be free, which is something. But it’s still going to disproportionately disenfranchise the young, the old and the disadvantaged. To tackle a practically non existent problem.

It's worth reading about the debate on voter ID in the States, where the Republicans have heavily pushed it in states with high numbers of Black and Hispanic voters as they know it poses a hurdle to marginalised groups.

It's a clear attempt to make it harder for already marginalised groups to vote. Electoral fraud has NOT been identified as a problem in the UK, doesn't appear that they're also cracking down on concerns around electoral expenditure, bribery or postal voting.

It's a clear attempt to make it harder for already marginalised groups to vote.

No it's not, we are the anomaly in Europe. Also requiring ID to vote doesn’t have a partisan dimension at all so lets not try and slip into that, it’s not actively giving/taking the vote away from anyone who doesn’t have the right to it already, especially as the proposal is offering free ID.

Although I do agree in part with this doesn't appear that they're also cracking down on concerns around electoral expenditure, bribery or postal voting.

Electoral expenditure is just a slap on the wrist and all sides have issues, even with the independent body its not really taken seriously, the postal vote fraud is an issue that this policy doesn't really help, and it could be seen as bringing in ID cards via the back door, but if you take out the partisan side of it (most people on MN are 'nothing to hide nothing to fear') there is no problem with the rest of europe having ID cards.