Claptrap!
The Electoral Commission recognises the need to make the GB voting procedure more secure in order to inspire confidence in the system.
And boost turnout.
This is the true reason voter ID was introduced in Northern Ireland in the first place. It's been successful and will be so in GB.
The Electoral Commission frequently cite Northern Ireland as an example to follow.
Fact is if voters in the poorest part of the United Kingdom have no problem with Voter ID.....there's no reason to suppose voters in the more better off parts of the UK will struggle to get to grips with it all.
The poorest part of the UK? Northern Ireland where ID is required before you can vote.
It seems to me its mostly lefties in Great Britain who have an irrational fear of this disadvantaging their favoured party. Quite curious how lefties in Northern Ireland don't share the same irrational fear.
Or those in the Republic of Ireland for that matter.
The people of GB will have little problems getting on with voter ID. If some can't afford it, well it's FREE! It's not rocket science!
And here is the findings of the Electoral Commission on the voter ID pilot in 2019:
"The data and findings presented in our evaluation build on the evidence base provided by the 2018 pilot scheme. This evidence further clarifies the way in which a voter ID scheme could be delivered in Great Britain.
However, we are not able to draw definitive conclusions, from these pilots, about how an ID requirement would work in practice, particularly at a national poll with higher levels of turnout or in areas with different socio-demographic profiles not fully represented in the pilot scheme."
So, they say they weren't able to draw definitive conclusions which doesn't match the doom 'n gloom narrative several have given in this thread.
And they went on to say the following:
"If the policy is to be developed further, Government and Parliament should consider carefully the available evidence about the impact of different approaches on the accessibility and security of polling station voting in Great Britain.
This should include evidence from the experience of polling station voters in Northern Ireland, who have been required to show ID since 1985 (including requiring photo ID since 2003), as well as the evidence from the local pilot schemes in both 2018 and 2019."
Essentially, Northern Ireland should be looked to for best practice on the requirement of voter ID. As already shown with no serious argument against it, Northern Ireland already shows requiring voter ID does work!
As for accessibility to voter ID, they stated:
"While a large majority of people already have access to an acceptable form of photo ID, allowing only existing forms of officially issued photo ID would not be accessible for everyone.
To make sure voting at polling stations remains accessible, there would need to be other options for people who do not already have an acceptable form of photo ID. This could involve providing free of charge locally issued photo ID, as currently provided for electors in Northern Ireland.
Alternatively, it could involve allowing voters to use their poll card – on the current model or a different model – as the primary or secondary route to proving identity, depending on the level of security required."
And:
"Locally issued ID that includes a photo – like the electoral identity card currently provided in Northern Ireland – would be more secure than locally issued ID without a photo."
And:
"Some groups of people would find it harder than others to show photo ID in a polling station, although this could be mitigated if locally issued photo voter cards were easily available for all."
Once again, we find that Northern Ireland is held up in this regard for best practice. Essentially, GB would follow best practice from us in Northern Ireland and, if necessary, tweak anything that is needed to ensure best function.
Really, I think it's tribalism in the vein of Labour v Conservatives that's at the heart of any opposition in this thread. Pretty much driven by those who vote Labour based on an irrational fear.
But the Electoral Commission is very clear Voter ID becoming a requirement DOES work.
The Electoral Commission's concerns was related to the short time table for Local Elections in May, IIRC.
Not with the principle of requirements for voter ID itself. Important distinction.
It will apply to General Elections in England from October 2023, so plenty of time to get it right having learnt best practice from Northern Ireland.
Less of the faux outrage, please.....