Photo ID needed to vote? Please no.

[flashbac]

The government are bringing in (photo) voter ID meaning you'll need to show your passport or driving licence when going to cast your vote.

By all means reform the postal voting system but not this. Not everyone drives or goes abroad and this will bar many people from voting. Driving licences and passports are not cheap.

amp.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/10/queens-speech-photo-id-future-elections-social-care?

@AMillionMilesAway

This is voter suppression by stealth, IMO.

See I don’t think that is what’s behind it. I can totally believe that this government would be capable of that, and National ID cards were something Dominic Cummings wanted back in 2020. But, the people most likely to be disenfranchised are not the young (who in the 16-24 age group made up the majority of those who voluntarily got the ID cards under the Blair government) but the elderly or the disadvantaged. The former being much more likely to be Tory voters and recent elections have made it clear those in more disadvantaged areas have no problem voting Tory. Also, the government have an 80 seat majority and have made huge gains locally recently, they can’t be that concerned about voting fraud can they? So, if there’s so much voting fraud but the Tories aren’t being impacted by it, and it’s their voters who might be disenfranchised by ID cards, then you have to ask why are they so keen on them now?

@Serpenta

Voter fraud in the UK is almost non-existent. This is just the Tories copying from the Republican's Big Book of Voter Suppression.

Absolutely this. First thing I thought.

Yes it’s plain and simple voter suppression.

I agree with PP who said this is not about voter fraud but about making things easier for the tories to win because those less likely to have ID are also more going to be disenfranchised and less likely to be tories.

Voter suppression - young people and ethnic minorities usually, though not always don't vote tory. This is in direct response to losing London in the mayoral elections. The tories basically have seen they can kill of over 100k people, burn down people in council housing, be openly undemocratic, be openly hostile to welfare claimants and poor kids and fraudulent yet still win. They want to ensure we become essentially a one party state. This is one such a method.

@Serpenta

Voter fraud in the UK is almost non-existent. This is just the Tories copying from the Republican's Big Book of Voter Suppression.

TBF, nobody actually knows the extent of voter fraud

There are some areas that already ask for some ID. Particularly in areas with large student populations. Part of the problem is that if you register to vote at a new address you don’t automatically cancel your vote from your previous address. Many people don’t bother to cancel their old vote, so a polling card goes to their new address and old address. Old polling card is lying around at former address, ready for anyone to pick up and use

I read that Councils will provide free voter ID but can't remember where.
I think postal voting should be reformed & only allowed in essential cases.

Voter suppression - young people
But young people aren’t the group most likely to be opposed to getting an ID card. As before, the 16-24 age group were the ones who voluntarily got one when the Blair government introduced them in 2009/10.

Given the fact that Dominic Cummings wanted to introduce Digital ID cards in 2020, and had previously called the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation 'a legal and bureaucratic nightmare', I think there’s reason to be suspicious about the real reasons for this. In 2020 Tory MP Matt Warman said of the plan that he was excited to 'work with partners in the private sector'. I bet he was.

This just means that a certain portion of society won't be able to vote. Through my work (social welfare) I've met many people who don't have photographic ID or even their own bank account etc.
Unless the government brings in free photographic ID for everyone. I think people didn't like that idea but I can tell you it would make some people's lives a hell of a lot easier.

Where I'm from you need photo Id to vote. It's free to get a temporary one to vote.

skirk64
Sounds like a good idea, it's not much to ask for people to prove their identity when casting their vote. As long as plenty of notice is given so that people can apply for a passport if they don't already have one.

Said by someone who has no idea of the poverty some people live in.

@GreyStairs

I disagree. I think there should be some kind of identification to vote. Even if it’s just your polling card, if you don’t have a drivers licence or passport.

The fact you just rock up and say “John Smith” and don’t even have to give your address as they read your address back to you as a question means anyone can go and take my vote before me.

Mine always asks confirm address. I think it's unlikely anybody would pretend to be someone else. They'd have to know your name, address, if you are even registered to vote, the fact you had yet been yourself to the polling station or voted by post...

@DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat

Voter suppression - young people But young people aren’t the group most likely to be opposed to getting an ID card. As before, the 16-24 age group were the ones who voluntarily got one when the Blair government introduced them in 2009/10.

That's quite interesting because that age group is also least likely to vote.

I don’t have a license as I don’t drive and my passport has expired as I haven’t been abroad for 10 years I haven’t renewed it.

There would have to be free voter ID cards as there are in NI, so not having a passport isn't a problem.

I'd be much more concerned about postal fraud where you don't know who actually fills in the voting slip.

@FeatheredHope

The UK getting over its aversions to ID cards could easily sort this.

Can someone please explain to me why the British are so averse to ID cards? ID is required for so many things anyway and many countries have had national ID cards for a long time without turning into fascist police states. I’m never quite sure what the strong aversion to them is, especially if cost isn’t an issue (which it shouldn’t be).

Because we don’t exist only with the permission of the government. We don’t have to prove that we are allowed to walk down the road. It’s so fundamental to not being subject to totalitarianism.

A Financial Times statistician shared:

“ A reminder, as government plans for photo ID at elections resurface, that people with existing forms of photo ID are more likely to vote Conservative, and people without photo ID heavily skew Labour”

This is about voter suppression

@Zotter

A Financial Times statistician shared:

“ A reminder, as government plans for photo ID at elections resurface, that people with existing forms of photo ID are more likely to vote Conservative, and people without photo ID heavily skew Labour”

This is about voter suppression

Yes but existing forms of photo ID are mostly driving licences and passports (there are other of course, linked to specific jobs, firearms etc) they are not forms of ID that people will be thinking curtail their freedom or threaten their privacy. I think a lot of people are going to see any photo ID required for voting is very much a step towards a National ID card. And traditionally it’s more right wing leaning voters (and prior to this, political parties) that opposed that. I’d be surprised if this ever gets through tbh.

I’d be surprised if this ever gets through tbh

With a 80 seat majority, high probability even with dissenters.

@shouldistop

This just means that a certain portion of society won't be able to vote. Through my work (social welfare) I've met many people who don't have photographic ID or even their own bank account etc. Unless the government brings in free photographic ID for everyone. I think people didn't like that idea but I can tell you it would make some people's lives a hell of a lot easier.

Yeah they'll have to bring in electoral ID cards like we have here in Northern Ireland. They're quite useful if you don't have any other ID as they're accepted for opening bank accounts and things.

Because we don’t exist only with the permission of the government. We don’t have to prove that we are allowed to walk down the road. It’s so fundamental to not being subject to totalitarianism.

Such totalitarianism in all that countries with ID😳

I think it's just a case of being special

At least there could be a proper one but optional like in some other countries. But it has to be actually accepted as an id everywhere properly.

I had someone trying to prove their identity with bank card once.

Because we don’t exist only with the permission of the government. We don’t have to prove that we are allowed to walk down the road. It’s so fundamental to not being subject to totalitarianism

Ah, yes the totalitarianism governments in such countries as Poland, France, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands...