Voter ID process discriminates

[humancalculator]

I am not going to argue here the reasons for or against the need to produce ID to vote, but I do think the UK legislation is facing a too-tight timetable and also, as it stands, is potentially hugely discriminatory. Acceptable ID include passport, driver’s license, and one of a few other possible IDs, most of which are reserved for 60+. Not going to spell it out, but passports, driver’s licenses and/or 60+ cards don’t really reach everyone.
Student ID cards and transport cards are not acceptable, apparently because they are too easily faked…

Yes, you can argue that the Voter ID card is available, but that’s an extra step that falls unequally onto the shoulders of the young and the poor, populations who are less-inclined anyway to vote. The government refused several amendments from the Lords to make the process more inclusive. Local councils have reported that they just don’t have the resources required to process Voter ID applications in time. How exactly is this promoting democratic participation? I don’t think it is, and I think (and this is where perhaps you can argue whether I am being U or NU) the Tory government is restricting this deliberately. Because passports and driver’s licenses are middle-class markers, and 60+ are more likely to be Tory. Students and public transport users, hmm, not so much.

I think periodically removing people from the voting register is a bigger barrier to voting.
But then I’m from an area of the UK that requires ID for voting anyway so I don’t really see the issue with that being a requirement in the rest.

How are they middle class markers? Who doesn't have a passport or license (even provisional) these days? You need this kind of ID to open any form of bank account, claim benefits, etc.

Because passports and driver’s licenses are middle-class markers
I mean this is ridiculous. I’m from an incredibly working class background and I don’t know anyone without at least 1 formal type of ID and passport and driving license aren’t the only two, but in no way are they middle class markers 😂

Why can't uk just have IDs like actual developed country though?

Also DL is certainly not a "moddle class marker". You all need to stop chatting crap about classes ehen no one even has an idea what the markers are anymore😂

I was 28 when I got my driving licence and 35 when I got my first passport. I couldn't afford them before then.

Yes because only middle class people have DRIVING LICENCEs.
If you're going to pass commentary on UK culture and make blanket declarations about class signifiers can you at least use the correct terminology to show you actually understand what you're talking about, please?

They did try and get UK ID cards back under Gordon Brown but the concept got too much backlash and was one of the hills he died on.

That looks like a comprehensive list though
www.gov.uk/government/publications/voter-identification-at-polling-stations-and-the-new-voter-card/protecting-the-integrity-of-our-elections-voter-identification-at-polling-stations-and-the-new-voter-card#annex-a-list-of-identity-documents-that-will-be-accepted

Would be easoer eith just a simple national ID, but whatever floats local boat

According to the Electoral Commission, about 8% of the UK electorate (3.5 million people) don't have photo ID. If you can't afford to drive or go abroad, why would you have it? It's not mandatory for opening a bank account or claiming benefits, how could it be when it's not mandatory to have photo ID in the UK?

Surely you know this isn’t common or indicative of class status? An adult passport is £75 and a provisional license is £34.
Even on minimum benefits it shouldn’t take people over a decade of adult life to save that up.

The amount of in-person voter fraud is very low.

Those who don't have suitable ID will have to register for a postal vote.

There are considerably higher levels of fraud (and of coercion) in postal voting than in in-person.

What could possibly go wrong??

You don't need photo ID to open a bank account claim benefits, there will also be a lot of people who will have had photo ID in the past such as a passport which they used to open their account or make an initial claim but which has since expired and they cannot afford to renew.

Unless the government is going to subsidise photo ID for people on low incomes then it is discriminatory of them to insist on it for voting purposes, they're excluding a portion if the electorate largely based on financial circumstances.

Whereas I got my provisional licence at 17 and I lived in a council house and my single mum was on benefits. It's a question of priorities and what you were willing to go without to buy something else. In your case you were willing to go without a valid form of ID. In my case I couldn't afford NOT to have it as I needed it to work and earn money.

NOT having a driving license is more of a middle-class marker than having one is. Only the relatively wealthy can afford not to be able to drive, live in areas with reliable public transport, have cycling lanes etc.

A lot of minorities have passports. The issue is really with what counts as acceptable ID. The tories would let someone 60+ even show their free travel card but wouldn't accept e.g. student ID. Also think about policies - pensioners who in large part vote tories will always have their whims catered to. I don't think the cost of a provisional license is prohibitive - to even open a bank account you need something.

I won't be renewing my passport - not travelling abroad so it's a waste of money.
I have a postal vote, so I suppose that's one way around it.

Yes, you can argue that the Voter ID card is available, but that’s an extra step that falls unequally onto the shoulders of the young and the poor, populations who are less-inclined anyway to vote.

If somebody cannot be bothered to obtain a free Voter ID card through their local authority then ultimately I think it’s fine to conclude that their choice not to vote has not been decided for them by anybody but them.

Plus, showing proof of eligibility to work in the UK with a passport or drivers license has been a requirement for every job I’ve ever had, even when I worked in shops and cafes as a student. I don’t believe there are vast swathes of people out there without some form of ID and unable to obtain any.

I got my first passport at 25. Not everyone can obtain a driver's licence. And why would you pay £80 (or whatever it is now) for a passport that you'd only use a few times?

Passport and DL are not the only available IDs.
There are low cost and free one as well....

I don't have a driving licence (I live in Central London, so don't need one) and when my passport expires at the start of next year I have no reason to renew it - I'm unlikely to be travelling anywhere for the foreseeable future so it would be a complete waste of money. Not everybody without photo ID is practically destitute.

Why are people saying you don't need photo ID to open a bank account/claim benefits? Young people definitely do.

Young people won't have the 'alternative ID' options such as bank statements, utility bills/tenancy agreements with their name on, etc. I know this for a fact because I didn't have even one form of 'alternative ID' when I was applying to open bank accounts, etc a few years ago. Passports and licences (even if provisional) are an absolute necessity for young people.

So, if anything OP, I think this new voter ID legislation helps rather than hinders young voters.

Why can’t everyone obtain a license? You don’t even need to take lessons or a test. A provisional license is £34, hardly totally out of reach. It’s a good thing to have, many scenarios require a form of photo ID.

Two of my neighbours have neither. They've never even tried to learn to drive and neither of them have ever gone abroad. Mainly because neither household has ever had the money to learn to drive, buy a car run a car etc or go on proper holidays.

I know someone who is not entitled to vote who has somehow registered to vote ( owns a property in London, registered for council tax, has a bank account and bills here but visits on a visitors visa) and if he has there must be others so they need something to try and avoid that.

I know some EEA who got polling cards for votes we were not allowed to vote in.
It's glitchy

I saw this on HotukDeals