To remind you that no photo ID = no right to vote.

[SusiePevensie]

Get ID here: www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

Exactly. The poor in Northern Ireland have free voter ID and can vote. Ditto the Republic of Ireland.

Absolutely no reason why the GB poor couldn't do the same. Always seems to be a misinformed GB lefty engaging in faux outrage and/or irrational thinking on this one.

It's worth pointing out that the photo required for the photo ID no longer has to be via a photo booth or photographer.

Photos taken with a mobile phone, at home against a plain background are now accepted, reducing the cost of photo iD significantly and therefore making it more accessible.

Don't you want/get state pension? Your Ni No is on state pension correspondence.

Not really, they check eligibility for the 60+ oyster card such as requiring passport to be uploaded as part of application process!

I have a paper license, if you got a photo license you have to renew every 10 I think years, if you had the paper one there was no need to even get a photo license.

And my passport is 6 years out of date, I have no intention of getting a new one yet but the photo is 16 years old. So I've got a paper voter I'd form to fill out. Bloody pain it is, it wants copies of certain bills in the right name and address and I go by a short form name.

If they are not encouraged to learn English how are they informed enough to vote?

But this poster is not wrong. How are they being middle class or ableist with this comment? I'm genuinely confused

As citizens of this country they are ENTITLED to a vote. Jesus Christ, there’s not some test you have to pass to be deemed “informed” enough, we aren’t quite at that level of dystopian shit show yet.

You might want to remind yourself that it wasn’t that long ago that women weren’t deemed informed enough to vote.

With every entitlment comes responsibility. They will have to get the free voting cards then.
I am assuming their English was good enough to pass b1 test and LITUK test so they could deal with simple form (plus you can translate pages in browsers).

While it's a new responsibility, which will take time getting used to, it's free, it's doable.

And you might want to remind yourself not to be so arsey.

It was a genuine question and nowhere in my post did I say that they were not entitled to vote.

I honestly wondered how people who cannot understand the language of the country they are living feel able to vote if they don't understand a word that is being said about issues that very much might affect them.

'I honestly wondered how people who cannot understand the language of the country they are living feel able to vote if they don't understand a word that is being said about issues that very much might affect them'.

The problem is the same might be said about many native English speakers. Denying the right to vote based on language skills is a very slippery slope, what about those with low intelligence or education should they too be disinfrashised?

As citizens of this country they are ENTITLED to a vote. Jesus Christ, there’s not some test you have to pass to be deemed “informed” enough, we aren’t quite at that level of dystopian shit show yet.

Actually there IS a 'life in the UK' test that people coming in from abroad. need to pass if they want citizenship and I bet the majority of native residents would struggle to pass it.

@CryInToYourCornflakesNicola if the photo in your out-of-date passport still looks like you, you can use it for id to vote.

All theses against it what would be a better option

Well I think it does look like me. However 16 years ago I had long brown hair, now I've got short grey hair and glasses. I did wonder if I should just use my passport but if I got there and they said no, I'm buggered. Dont know what to do for the best really.

I mean I use my out of date passport for picking up parcels and that's ok, but this is a vote and I really want to vote.

Do you go by short version even on your bank account? I wasn't able to put any other name on but the one from my ID so proper version and as far as I know banks do want legal name on. Might be wrong but maybe sprak with them if possible. You can then always get statement as proof of address

The bank uses full version. Other problems come up as I do internet banking, not had a statement in years, council tax is in my sons name, and only one bill a year, water same, electricity and gas in partners name, I'm struggling with the Id needed to get the voter id card. Irony at it's best.

If I cant get the voter id I'll use passport and hope. And in the next couple of years I'll get a new passport I guess.

Oh you need I think 3 or 5 bills in your name, can be 5 consecutive bank statements, or similar.

I also don't have paper statements but you can download acceptable statement online or get copy in a branch. They used to stamp them there as well. Pdf statements are now widely accepted.

The sort of people who bash the Tories for this tend to be those who love the EU. I suggest they look at what other countries in their beloved EU do. Most seem to require it en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_identification_laws

and yes postal voting needs an overhaul too.

Well tough. If you live in a country and want to vote then maybe learn a little of one of the national languages. That way you'll be able to inform yourself of what's going on in politics, local government, wider society etc Pretty much all countries round the world require voters to have photo is, its not a really novel idea or requirement.

I want to mention that not only can you do a selfie for your photo (but against a plain background, like a passport one), you can also go to your local council offices for help with the form filling. Some councis are also doing help sessions in local libraries for those who do not have access to Internet, or mobile phone, etc.

If you know of someone struggling, especially in a different part of the country, then google their council website for info and pass it on. It really isn't that difficult, but more importantly don't leave it until the last minute. There is help out there!

A) You either stick with the current system which has very limited levels of fraud and certainly not enough to influence voter outcomes or

B) copy the EU model by issuing everyone with id cards to ensure no one is disnfranchised.

The new UK system is the worst of both models as it is reliant on under resourced LAs to make people aware of the requirements and issue them with ID. In reality a lot of people will just not bother to vote which is not great for a democracy.

Just apply for your free voter ID card if you meet the eligibility criteria. 🤷‍♂️

Forget about the EU system. The Electoral Commission recognises Northern Ireland as the one to follow for best practice and, if necessary, tweak it for GB.

Excerpts from the Electoral Commission addressing concerns such as this has already been posted in this thread by me.