Voting question regarding poorer people

[Dogeatsdog24]

So my understanding is the gap between rich and poor is getting bigger it seems to me rishi has picked on the most vulnerable people ie poor/low income /disabled/ill /elderly etc .

So my question is now you have to have photo ID to vote . Is this a stunt to stop people voting. Which are more likely to be the vulnerable people I mentioned above? As they may be less likely to have a passport /driving licence.

I understand you can apply for photo ID on the government site. But the only reason I know this is because mumsnet told me otherwise I would have had no idea. There will be millions of others that do not know as well. And all non votes automatically go to him.

So is it a ploy to get more votes/stop people voting ... am I talking shit?

I understand you can apply for photo ID on the government site. But the only reason I know this is because mumsnet told me otherwise I would have had no idea.

I mean the government can't legislate for it not entering your head to check their website?!

There will be millions of others that do not know as well.

Again, what is anyone supposed to do with those for whom it wouldn't enter their heads to simply check?

And all non votes automatically go to him.

Errrrm it's a worry that anyone allowed to vote actually thinks this ^^ 😬

I do agree that it disproportionally effects poorer people though who are less likely to have a passport or driving licence.

But they don't need either of those things so how does it disproportionately affect them?

Because it's easier if you already have ID in place. If you're poor and worrying about how you're going to feed your kid or get to work or afford heating, or struggling with mental health problems or other disabilities, remembering to apply for government mandated ID is not going to be a priority.

It can't be that hard to comprehend?

I'm poor and disabled but I'm not thick. Being poor or vulnerable doesn't make us stupid. I know about voter ID and it's really difficult to get by without photo ID nowadays anyway. Need it to rent. Guess need it for mortgage too but that's not something I'll ever afford.

Lots of poorer people like me live in flats. I used to live somewhere where post was a shared area and when there was an election, all our polling cards were there. Any of my neighbours could've taken my polling card to vote. That made me want voter ID and it was years before current government brought it in.

I don't know. I swear someone told me this years ago. Maybe I imagined it. Fuck knows but I'm glad I'm wrong 🤣

Not this again 🙄 It's widely publicised, it tells you on your voting card. It's not new. If you don't want to show ID, get a postal vote.

That's ok. I don't fully know what I'm talking about. I was doubting myself which is why I wrote that 😅

Oh don't be ridiculous.

If that put you off simply applying for free ID you wouldn't bother voting anyway.

I have learning difficulties . There's probably lots of things that are seen as basic that I don't understand. I have voted in the past on and off . Because part of me has thought how can I vote for something I don't fully understand.

First week of the school holidays for Scotland too, so many families will be away too.

I agree with photo ID when voting & have also worked at local elections since its been introduced.

Its been widely publisicised on TV, radio, social media etc & is also included in the annual letter/email from your Council that requires you to confirm your entry on the electoral register. You also get it in the voting card/letter from your council 4-6 weeks before the election.

It includes what ID you can use (it's a very specific list) & advises you how to get one for free from your local council (which lasts for several years so doesn't have to be done each year).

In the last 2 elections, only 5 people came to vote without photo any or the correct photo ID & all of them returned with it to vote later that day.

You can easily get free voter ID so it doesn't stop people voting.

Then remembering to vote probably wouldn't either.

Sorry but you're talking nonsense.

When you get your voting card, it says quite clearly that you need photo id. It tells you how to get your ID for free. You don't need to pay for a photo, just use a mobile phone.

That was detailed on the news, on the internet, tv, in newspapers, in council news letters and parish mags. On Mumsnet. You'd have to live under a rock not to know.

In May 21 about 8% of the electorate didn't have valid ID. By the 2023 local election, about 3% who wanted to vote, didn't have suitable ID.

Yes, that's my thinking. I remember when I graduated a lot of students didn't even have any idea where they were going to be living in July. Staying in your current university accommodation, staying in your university town but having to move to new accommodation because your lease has run out, moving back home, going travelling or on holiday, moving for a holiday job, moving for a permanent job or postgraduate studies, sleeping on a friend's sofa for a bit. It's a time of upheaval and uncertainty. Even school-leavers may be off abroad or moving around.

I think it’s pretty offensive to suggest that “poorer” people are too stupid to get themselves photo ID if they don’t already have it.

I have seen lots of complaining about this issue, but the complaining is mainly being done by people who do have photo ID.

I have learning difficulties. I did not know how to get photo ID until MN told me when I asked a few weeks back . I thought I could not vote at all. I would also come under the poor/low paid ect. I guess I'm stupid for not knowing then .

You do know. You started this thread. Probably to encourage people to vote Labour.

Where did you get the idea that you simply could not vote?

Can I ask what age you are?

You believed that all spare votes went to the current PM. You also, apparently, didn’t know about postal voting. You can’t know about postal voting AND thought you can’t vote at all. And just coming up with incorrect information time and time again.

Around every election you will get post to your home. You will get information about voter ID and about postal votes. Have you never read any of it?

It’s also been talked about a lot on TV. Especially the argument that disabled people or poor people must not be able to find out this information. Again, it’s quite condescending.

If you learning difficulties are that significant that you can’t understand the information that comes through the post, do you have someone who can go through it with you?

But if you were truly serious about voting, you'd Google it wouldn't you?

I'm pretty sure my thread won't push people to vote Labour. After about 5 or so posts . It became quite clear I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. Although I thought I did. Turns out I don't.

But if the thread did push to push to vote Labour would it upset you. It won't as its a shot thread . But you mentioned it so thought I would ask

The Voting ID you can apply for is free, but I suspect they are counting on people assuming it isn't, and also people struggling to survive might have more immediate things on their plate and maybe other barriers to getting one. But, Yys, ID is blatantly a way of trying to disenfranchise people who are less likely to vote Tory as there is no evidence that meaningful electoral fraud takes place, and if it does it's not through people pretending to be someone else.

I have to admit I missed out in voting at the local elections because I didn’t register in time, I assumed I was already registered but then realised I had not received a poling card, I am now registered. I do have photo ID but neither of my daughter do, they are both 18+ with autism, I will have to remind the eldest to register, youngest won’t be voting as she doesn’t understand what she’s voting for.

I have ADHD and it’s pretty easy to forget to get around to registering or sorting ID, not all people watch the news or read things on social media (some can’t read). I do hope people do vote, especially those who want change. And no I don’t think there will be a huge change if labour gets in.

It IS really insulting the amount of people who are bringing up 'struggling to survive' as a 'reason' some people won't be able to get free photo ID.

If they're that preoccupied, why wouldn't they be too preoccupied to vote?

The same tactic the Tories use for postal votes then: send them out too late, or not at all.

I’m not bothered what anyone votes. I didn’t vote last time at all - because my politics are in the centre and I felt both conservative and labour were very bad options.

I think that we should not have some polarised left/right fight. We should have a good centre party who treat each issue individually. I think the NHS should be completely out of politics and controlled by people who know what they are doing, rather than politicians who want votes.

The good thing about the July 4 election is that there isn’t long until it happens. That means not long for the toxic left/right arguments that will dominate this website. When both are completely wrong.

And whoever gets in can just do not a lot before parliament’s lovely summer break. Whilst things get worse for everyone.