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.

Well my mum doesn't have a passport or a drivers licence.
I think they probably did used to be middle class markers but less so now.
Although learning to drive and going on holiday abroad obviously require disposable income so the poorer you are the less likely you are you have either.
It will probably impact the youngest, oldest or poorer voters the most.

Point to one bank that says you don’t need photo ID to open an adult account then?

I don't drive, and my passport is about to expire. I will have no photo I'D when it does. So I'll need to renew it a a cost to vote.Hmm

Or you can just get another one from the quote extensive list

However, if you don’t have a valid UK passport or driving licence, there are some other forms of ID that banks may consider

www.finder.com/uk/how-to-open-a-bank-account-without-id-in-the-uk

Did you even read that?
I mean literally in the summary all those banks listed require photo ID. The alternatives to a passport or driving license are just other forms of photo ID or documents you can only obtain if you have photo ID.

The voting requirements will not only be passports or driving licenses, as per parts of the UK at the minute.

The fact is if you want to walk down the high street and open a bank account with no ID you won’t be able to. Not sure why you are trying to twist yourself in knots to prove otherwise.

Ive no idea why you are hell bent on trying to claim it’s normal and easy to operate in the uk with no photo ID.

It literally says you don't need a passport or driving licence.

I live and "operate" in the UK despite not having photo ID.

And if everything needs photo ID, including needing photo ID to get photo ID how the fuck do you get photo ID?

Just have a national ID card.

Read down further to where it suggests eg tax notifications...no photo id on those.

I just had to fill in forms to get the postal vote I think.

maybe they are worse for corruption but they would enable someone to vote without having to produce photo ID

To be fair I opened a bank account via santander with no photo ID 5 years ago, before I got my voters card to use as ID

It is a proper account but very basic - no overdraft or credit abilities, just cash card

It wasn't simple and involved a lot of running back and forth with the manager, only a select few banks allow it. I think in the end I needed to provide as many documents as I could find to prove who I was - birth certificate, HMRC letters, job acceptance letters, had no utilities in my name to provide either.

But it is possible, very difficult but possible and I hope anyone else in that situation can get help from organisations to help them apply.

Voter ID cards will be free (by law), although they must include a photograph - which the voter will probably need to purchase.

The rules for postal votes are also due to be tightened, but I don't think the proposals are in the same legislation as Voter ID - it may come later. Proposals include needing to re-apply every 3 years for a postal vote, tightening up ID checks, introducing online applications, much tighter restrictions on who can hand in postal votes at polling stations (where it is too late to post the ballot paper).

Rules on voting need to be tightened up in the UK, to avoid any chance of matching the shenanigans in the USA over the last few years.

Personally, I will need a Voter ID card in the near future when my current (and last) passport runs out. I do not have a driving licence and I am too old for the "youth" IDs, too young for the "pensioner" IDs, and don't qualify for the "disabled", "military" or "immigrant" IDs.

I worked in a school in a deprived area and when planning a trip abroad the majority of students didn't have passports. Sure it may not be strictly MC, but I can't believe you would think that most people have them. What a bubble you live in.

but I can't believe you would think that most people have them.

Most people do though
Reportedly 75% do. That's most

Nothing personal but I actually realised that often the "you live in a bubble" actually bounces back to the poster who said that on MN

I think it’s disgusting, the idea of not allowing student ID when a bus pass is fine?
In a truly functioning democracy it should be as easy as possible to vote whilst minimising risk of fraud. Rates of voter fraud are relatively low and administering this could cost 180 million over a decade.
It’s politically motivated disenfranchisement and is incredibly sinister.

No you don't. For people who don't have photo ID (me at the moment), you can do online verification, they go through a sequence of questions about savings, credit, bills, previous addresses etc. I can't medically drive, I'm not going to renew my passport until I am going on holiday. I shouldn't have to fork out £15 to vote. Voting is no longer a right, it comes with conditions. As said you don't need ID to get a postal vote and they are more likely to be subject to fraud.

"Rates of voter fraud are relatively low and administering this could cost 180 million over a decade."

But that's another set of contracts for friends and family. Will no-one think of the millionaires 😩

Rates on in-person fraud are very low. So yes, I suspect their motives.

This is a solution looking for a problem

If they want to tackle voter fraud, then they need to reverse some of the recent relaxations of restrictions on who can apply for a postal vote. Coercion is a troubling unintended consequence of the current set up

How do we know rates of fraud? How do they track it with just turning up and saying your name?
I know this is personal anecdote but I personally know of at least 15 i stances when someone voted when they were not supposed to but still were issues polling card

@NippyWoowoo Sure it may not be strictly MC, but I can't believe you would think that most people have them. What a bubble you live in.

It is quite literally a majority that have them though. 76% have UK passports and a further 7.4% have non UK passports. That’s 83.4% which is overwhelming majority.

A lot of younger people will have one of the proof of age cards anyway under the PASS scheme. DS1 is 19 and he has to have ID to go to the pub with his mates.

I had to leave all my ID behind when I left my violent partner and went in to refuge. Obviously had to open a new bank account in my own name (so husband couldn't access it to find out where I was).
I went in to the bank and gave them all the other forms of ID I could find (tenancy agreement, benefit letter, letter from refuge).
Ok it was only a very basic account, but there are banks that open accounts in circumstances where someone has no photo ID and some that open them where people have no fixed abode.

I'm talking about young people opening a bank account for the first time. Read the thread.