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.

"Voter ID is not cost prohibitive."

I never said it was, but someone was trying to argue that passport and driving licences aren't expensive, which I completely disagree with.
The main barrier is just having to apply for something. Voting shouldn't be made more difficult.

I don't have either. And didn't need them to open a bank account or claim UC.

"There are already minor barriers, applying to the electoral register within a certain time frame, applying for a postal vote within a certain time frame or attending set in person polling stations."

I've never applied to be on the electoral register. I think I was added automatically as a council tax payer. Of course, it might be more complicated if you're not the person who pays the bill.
I do remember that as a student I missed out on one election despite being VERY, VERY interested in voting so it's not just the feckless who get it wrong. In my first year I'd been added by the university, later on while still being in uni accommodation, I wasn't. I went around every local polling station, but no...
Voting should be made as easy as possible.
It's hard to believe, but there are people who don't go because they forget, aren't sure where the polling station is etc. etc. and needing to apply in advance for ID will just make this worse.

"And didn't need them to open a bank account or claim UC."

I needed a utility bill to open a bank account and that was a much bigger problem for me as I was a lodger at the time.

Yawn. Obviously I don't know how old you are, but my post is clearly with young people in mind, which is mainly who the OP is talking about. If you're opening a bank account for the first time you're most likely a young person and it's near enough impossible without photo ID.

We had to apply to be on ER.
This is forst time I hwar of amyone being automatically added

The leyboard is not being kind to me🙄

I have a few friends who can't get a provisional licence, one has constant micro seizures, another has downs syndrome. Neither would be allowed a driving licence because they are not medically fit to drive, that is part of the application process and it is a crime to lie.

And yet my teens managed it in the last 2 years. And dS1 changed his name on his bank account without photo ID 6 months ago.

But the cost is prohibitive to many. Cheapest is a provisional driving license, that's £35. Quite a lot to find when you have fuck all to eat and can't pay the leccy.

You need a form of photo ID to open your first bank account.
Either you applied for your first account many decades ago when this may have been different or you are simply forgetting.

I shudder at the idea of getting financial products with no proper photo id. That's why there is a need for CIFAS.

Would love for you to tell us all how they managed to open new accounts without photo ID

Unless my sons bank accounts are imaginary you don't.

You also don't need photo ID to get a DBS check despite people on here always insisting you do.

Ummm... filled in the forms. Took in their BCs. Opened bank accounts.

So not adult accounts then?

My passport lapsed during Covid and renewing it hasn’t been a priority because I don’t have any trips planned. My provisional licence is about to expire and it’s not a priority to renew it because I have no interest in learning to drive.
Access to voting shouldn’t depend on your financial constraints, particularly at the moment when things are so tight for so many people.

If you have a residential address then that property should receive an annual Electoral Registration update letter/communication to list all residents with eligibility to vote. If any declared eligible residents are not on the Electoral Register then they should be 'invited' to join the Register by the Council OR they can always directly apply to join at any time.

That's the way it stands now - and there are also ways for 'homeless'/without a permanent people to vote now - different to 2001 when I was between homes/sofa surfing and couldn't vote although plenty of ID.

It is a bit archaic for 2022, that all it takes to vote is turning up with a printed bit of light card to prove who you are. How is it discriminatory to propose improvevents to this very easily abused process?

I think it’s obvious to 99% of people that considering we are taking about voting we are also talking about full adult debit bank accounts, not a child’s savings account.

I also just opened a bank account for my DD, I didn’t expect them to ask for photo ID for a 1 year old. If YOU opened a bank account YOU would need photo ID.

How would the Brexit vote have gone if either a passport or driving licence had been required to vote?

Back when I was a teenager everyone got a provisional driving license just before turning 18, whether they planned to take lessons or not. It was purely to buy alcohol, I carried it for around 10 years, until I stopped being asked. Didn't actually take driving lessons until I was 30.

Is it about the poor not being able to obtain the traditional fee-based based ID, needing Photo ID to vote or the UK resistance to requiring ID Cards as mandatory?

Make yer mind up folks.....

They aren't child savings accounts. They are bank accounts with debit cards.

It’s 2022, kids accounts have a card, it’s still child’s account and totally irrelevant to the argument that if you are an adult wanting to vote you will also need photo ID to open an adult bank account.

Ok. You don't. But ok.