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Original poster

Do you have official photo ID?

53 replies

Nightbear · 28/02/2021 14:29

Driving license or passport?

The government are planning legislation that will mean you have to have valid photo ID to be able to vote. It’s virtually unknown in the U.K. for someone to turn up and vote in someone else’s name but there are plenty of people in the U.K. who have the right to vote but don’t have photo ID. This would take the vote from thousands to address a practically nonexistent issue. The cost of getting photo ID would mean the U.K. would be effectively charging people for the right to vote.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/28/using-photo-id-in-british-elections-will-harm-democracy-say-us-civil-rights-groups

OP posts:
Prokupatuscrakedatus · 28/02/2021 14:33

Yes, of course, I am am over 16 but not in the UK.

ThisIsSimplyBeyond · 28/02/2021 14:35

I do, but it doesn't match my name - cause when you change your name on your passport you can only carry over so many of your leftover months. Or at least, that was the case when I last checked.

LubaLuca · 28/02/2021 14:35

Yes, I have a valid driving licence and passport.

Presumably if it became a legal requirement, there'd be a cheap ID card that would be available for those who wouldn't need either of the obvious forms.

choosername1234 · 28/02/2021 14:51

How is it virtually unknown for this fraud to take place if no one checks their ID?

badlydrawnbear · 28/02/2021 14:59

No. My passport expired and I didn’t have spare money to spend renewing it when wasn’t going abroad, and I can’t drive for medical reasons so don’t have a driving licence. If they do bring this in, I will have to find the money to renew my passport.

RampantIvy · 28/02/2021 15:01

I know a lot of people don't like the idea of an identity card, but there are a lot of people who don't have either a passport or a driving licence, so there does need to be something in place. 20 year old DD has a provisional driving licence so that she can buy alcohol as she only looks about 15.

GrandTheftWalrus · 28/02/2021 15:02

No my passport expired in January. Waiting till at least April to renew it as I'm changing my name on it.

Crocky · 28/02/2021 15:02

My driving licence is the old paper one and my passport is expired.

PurBal · 28/02/2021 15:03

Not in my married name no.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 28/02/2021 15:03

Presumably they can apply for a postal vote to get round the issue.

Wankerchief · 28/02/2021 15:04

No. Nor can i afford to get one

Yellowbowlbanana · 28/02/2021 15:07

I work with homeless people. We help them to obtain photo ID. Not sure if this would be enough to vote but you can use it for benefits.
www.citizencard.com/apply-for-a-uk-id-card-online

Significantly cheaper than a passport

ChameleonClara · 28/02/2021 15:07

@choosername1234

How is it virtually unknown for this fraud to take place if no one checks their ID?
Because there's little to be gained and would require massive conspiracy to have an impact. I suppose you could play a long game and buy 20,000 houses to let to tenants who you then force to vote for your preferred candidate Hmm

This is simply about stopping labour voters voting.

Whyistheteacold · 28/02/2021 15:09

A provisional driving license costs around £30 and is valid for 10 years. It's absolutely shocking the amount of adults who don't have any valid photo ID (I work in an industry where this is required from customers to be able to do business with us). A lot of customers don't even understand why their out of date passports or driving licences with old addresses can't be accepted. They send in some absolute tat thinking it will pass as ID!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/02/2021 15:10

Passport and driving license.

Lots of people wouldn't though. There should be a free/cheap ID card available for everyone. Having lived in another country where they were compulsory, it didn't really effect daily life. Only time we ever had to show them was when giving a witness statement after we saw a car accident. Lots of people carry work ID. Its easier than carrying a passport everywhere

TheLaughingGenome · 28/02/2021 15:14

I have loads but I understand some people don't have any. It's the people who don't have any who we should be focusing on.

How, if this law comes in, will they be accommodated? Who will pay? What legal challenges will ensue? Who will pay for what?

And is it even necessary?

Tbh, what with vaccine passports and this election stuff, we may as well introduce national identity cards and ration books and be done with it. The golden years of post-war freedoms and economic boom(s) are long gone.

Whyistheteacold · 28/02/2021 15:14

In fact it's £15 for a citizenship card, so to say it is unaffordable is a bit off a stretch. I'm sure the majority of people could find £15!

Comefromaway · 28/02/2021 15:14

Me & Dd are the only ones with photo ID. I have a driving licence and Dd has both a driving licence and a passport.

Dh surrendered his driving due to a medical condition. My parents have the old style paper licence and my mil had her licence taken away due to dementia.

We don’t have passports as it’s been many years since we went abroad.

RickiTarr · 28/02/2021 15:14

Yes. Most people do and MN is skewed to the middle classes so that will tip the response on this thread even further to “yes”.

However I agree it is an issue and will disproportionately affect lower income groups, so it’s a concern.

LunaHeather · 28/02/2021 15:17

Yes
I've no need for a passport but the Windrush thing concerned me so much I decided to renew it.

I have a DL but no longer drive. I now can't remember if I paid for it.

LunaHeather · 28/02/2021 15:18

@Whyistheteacold

In fact it's £15 for a citizenship card, so to say it is unaffordable is a bit off a stretch. I'm sure the majority of people could find £15!
I didn't know this existed. Maybe I should have got that instead of a passport.
FuzzyPenguin · 28/02/2021 15:18

Nope I have no official ID as we can’t afford a passport or drivers license. It’s proved tricky in the past

RickiTarr · 28/02/2021 15:19

@Whyistheteacold

In fact it's £15 for a citizenship card, so to say it is unaffordable is a bit off a stretch. I'm sure the majority of people could find £15!
You need someone to co-sign though don’t you? Presumably? The same as for a passport?

There are regular threads on MN by posters who can’t find and don’t know anyone suitable to confirm their identity.

ChameleonClara · 28/02/2021 15:19

@Whyistheteacold

In fact it's £15 for a citizenship card, so to say it is unaffordable is a bit off a stretch. I'm sure the majority of people could find £15!
But the point is a significant minority can't afford it. Plus they move a lot and have to change it every six months, or more. What about sofa surfers?

What about the Windrush problem - they can't get these documents thanks to Theresa May.

These are the people who get completely shafted by life as it is. If you have any humanity at all you should be on their side and not putting more barriers in their way.

Also: this problem has been made up by conservatives to disenfranchise the type of people who don't vote conservative. There is no voter fraud problem.

This is really a very shit idea dreamt up by genuinely bad people.

BigHandsomeBeast · 28/02/2021 15:20

Yes driving licence, passport and student ID. I’d imagine most people would have the same but I come from a very working class background and my mum for example has always struggled to present ID when required. She doesn’t have a passport as doesn’t holiday abroad and she can’t drive. She uses things like her birth certificate and benefits letters as ID which don't have photos on but I’ve often suggested getting her a provisional licence just for convenience.

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