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Original poster

Have you had any problems with the new voting ID rules

43 replies

thimblgattle167 · 04/05/2023 16:08

I have just been to vote. Lots of people there. I asked one of the volunteers (just in conversation) have they had problems with the new ID rules. She said one or two but much smoother than expected, but that the polls has also been quieter than usual

Will be interesting to see the voter turnout numbers

OP posts:
ItIsWhatItIsTillItIsnt · 04/05/2023 16:09

I didn't vote because I don't have any

Eightiesgirl · 04/05/2023 16:13

I registered to do a postal vote because my dh doesn't have any photo ID. The local councillor dropped of the forms and last week we received ballot papers with a pre paid envelope.

Samcro · 04/05/2023 16:19

no problems here DH has one of those voter ID things. very easy to get.

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Doggymummar · 04/05/2023 16:21

No it was all very straightforward I went in my lunch break. Oh lost his voting card but was ok to vote without it.

WhatHaveIFound · 04/05/2023 16:25

I always do a postal vote but they were so late coming in the post that I didn't trust the return post to get them back in time. DH dropped them in when he took our 18yo DS (with his passport) to the polling station for his first ever vote. He said it was very quiet there.

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 04/05/2023 16:35

No problems since I have ID, but it felt very odd and somehow intrusive and totalitarian. That may well be illogical, but it's how I felt.

Needmorelego · 04/05/2023 16:38

@ItIsWhatItIsTillItIsnt you could apply for a special voter ID card. It's a really straight forward form (on the government website). It's free.
I was going to get one but we haven't an election where I am. I will get one for next time.

ItIsWhatItIsTillItIsnt · 04/05/2023 16:42

Nah I won't bother in future

Needmorelego · 04/05/2023 16:43

@ItIsWhatItIsTillItIsnt ok. Your choice.

MrsMitford3 · 04/05/2023 16:44

Very smooth-no problems at all.

The lady doing the check said there were ppl waiting at the door at 6:45 this morning

QuintanaRoo · 04/05/2023 16:44

Yes. I had to push hard to be allowed to vote. They weren’t sure it was my driving licence as they thought my hair was very different 🤷🏻‍♀️. Funnily enough it can grow a lot in ten years. Big discussions, calling people over to all come and stare and decide if it was me. Not impressed.

gogohmm · 04/05/2023 16:44

No issues here at all, I asked - but we are in an area where it's hard to cope without a car

HistoryFanatic · 04/05/2023 16:45

ItIsWhatItIsTillItIsnt · 04/05/2023 16:09

I didn't vote because I don't have any

You can apply for a temporary thing. It says so on the poll card.

Seen your post. Dont bother moaning then about government if you don't vote. 🤷‍♀️

Popcorn640 · 04/05/2023 16:46

Where I live, a significantly higher proportion of voters have signed up for postal voters this time round - which may be part of the reason some posters are finding polling stations quieter than usual.

StayGoldenPonyGirl · 04/05/2023 16:48

QuintanaRoo · 04/05/2023 16:44

Yes. I had to push hard to be allowed to vote. They weren’t sure it was my driving licence as they thought my hair was very different 🤷🏻‍♀️. Funnily enough it can grow a lot in ten years. Big discussions, calling people over to all come and stare and decide if it was me. Not impressed.

I can understand that wasn't fun for you but the staff have to be so careful - it's a crime if they get it wrong. I work in this area but thankfully didn't have elections today - hoping issues are identified and solved before we do ours.

EatTheDamnCake · 04/05/2023 16:51

No, but I always have photo ID on me. As a Mumsnetter, I'm forever getting IDed as I look SO MUCH YOUNGER than I am 🤣

MrDrEvilPorkChopToYou · 04/05/2023 16:56

No, it was really easy. I was chatting to the polling officer who said she preferred driving licences because they are easier to look at, but that people were bringing passports as well. She looked closely at mine (licence) and at me - my photo is awful but I refrained from mentioning it, and checked the address too

There’s no way the ID requirement would put me off voting - that’s just silly! There are all kinds of options

Beautyhoard · 04/05/2023 17:05

I didn't vote as for the first time I've had zero comms about it - no info on polling station, never got a polling card, no letter inviting postal registration etc. weird

LittleFreakJezebel · 04/05/2023 17:05

QuintanaRoo · 04/05/2023 16:44

Yes. I had to push hard to be allowed to vote. They weren’t sure it was my driving licence as they thought my hair was very different 🤷🏻‍♀️. Funnily enough it can grow a lot in ten years. Big discussions, calling people over to all come and stare and decide if it was me. Not impressed.

Yep same happened to me. I'm mid 20's so still get asked for ID quite regularly, my passport also has the same photo and never had an issue with either but today they were very reluctant to let me to vote but luckily took one of the councillors standing outside word for it as he knows me.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 04/05/2023 17:08

I did mine by postal vote, so much easier. Dh went in person, no problem other than they forgot who was to open the polling station on time…😳

GOODCAT · 04/05/2023 17:11

No issues when I went in this morning. It was busy too. Once we got our voting slips we had to queue for an empty booth.

tailinthejam · 04/05/2023 17:11

Beautyhoard · 04/05/2023 17:05

I didn't vote as for the first time I've had zero comms about it - no info on polling station, never got a polling card, no letter inviting postal registration etc. weird

Perhaps there isn't an election in your district then. Not everywhere is holding local council elections today.

Needmorelego · 04/05/2023 17:13

@Beautyhoard yes lots of places had no election today. I'm in London - none here.

Pussycatbeen · 04/05/2023 17:14

I know people not voting because of it, because they have a lot to juggle and having to get I.D. adds to stress. Not everyone can afford to learn to drive or even to buy a passport. I think this will disenfranchise a small but significant number (any number disenfranchised is of course unacceptable).

TheFlis12345 · 04/05/2023 17:16

I asked at our polling station how it was going, they said a couple of people forgot and had to pop back home but everyone seemed aware of the requirements when reminded and they hadn’t had any complaints or issues.

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