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

I once went to vote and my name had been crossed off the list as having already voted. I didn't have my polling card withbme. And I was still allowed to vote.
They're not going to be turning someone away because it's not a great picture!

Was this before the new law that says they have to that comes into force in May 2023 by any chance?

No. But it's the same people that vounteer at the stations. They reckoned I looked honest so took my wird when I said I was Marsha Melrose and it will have been a genuine mistake. They weren't looking at depriving me of a vote.
It will be the same here. If it looks similar to them, they're not going to turn them away. All the photos of these IDS have to be clear otherwise they get rejected. So it's only going to be ancient documents (in relation to their age) or defaced documents. And it just won't apply to hardly anyone.
People could start to apply four weeks ago and yet according to The Guardian in the first two weeks only 0.5% of people applied. I bet that's not increased greatly now at the 4 week mark. Even if they gave people 2 years warning, most people won't apply until right before they need it. People are the same with passports. It's just human nature.

Once again this affects the poor and the vulnerable. Photo ID is a problem for people who can’t afford it. Even though its free to apply you need internet access, the ability to complete the form (literacy, language etc) and a spare tenner for passport style pics.

Don't need photo ID for a postal vote

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!

No, it doesn't and the Supreme Court has already ruled its legal (pilot scheme challenge brought by a pensioner).

If the voter ID requirement really was designed to deprive some people of their right to vote (disenfranchisement)....a challenge at the Supreme Court would presumably be successful.

But there is no such challenge precisely because the voter ID requirement is perfectly legal.

And that means there is no intention to deprive anyone of their right to vote. Especially because voter ID is FREE for those who require it.

Now, people can decide not to apply for their free voter ID if they so wish. But such people would be choosing to disenfranchise themselves. Not the system, Government or Electoral Commission who are in favour of voter ID, by the way.

Do you not need internet access for universal credit and other benefits? WiFi and access in job centres, Advocacy groups for asylum seekers and immigrants. The help is there for those who want it.

And no-one needs a spare tenner to pay for a photo either.

Just download an app to enable you to take passport style photos and away you go! It's that simple.

Once again.....the idea the poor and vulnerable will be adversely affected is overexaggerated by GB lefties due to their own irrational fear. 🤷‍♂️

Local councils will assist anyone who has problems filling out the form. Pictures are done digitally and cost nothing. Again ask the council.

Once again.....the idea the poor and vulnerable will be adversely affected is overexaggerated by GB lefties due to their own irrational fear.

I mean the independent Electoral Commission actually said this not ‘lefties’ but sure.

People could start to apply four weeks ago and yet according to The Guardian in the first two weeks only 0.5% of people applied. I bet that's not increased greatly now at the 4 week mark. Even if they gave people 2 years warning, most people won't apply until right before they need it. People are the same with passports. It's just human nature

exactly @MarshaMelrose and that’s what the Tories are counting on.

It’s also why it’s wrong they reduced the allowed ID list from the Electoral Commission recommendation.

The original list would have meant most people had photo ID as it included student cards and travel passes.

Now it only includes travel passes if you’re over 60. Why is that?

Do you have an explanation why they went against Electoral Commission’s advice on this?

You’ve shot yourself in the foot with this point.

No, the Electoral Commission said that GB following Northern Ireland's FREE voter ID card would solve that particular issue.

And guess what?

GB is providing FREE voter ID cards to those who need one!

Next.....🤷‍♂️

never not a pain in the arse.

Relevant parts from the Electoral Commission:

"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."

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."

Free ID cards IS being made available.

No, the Electoral Commission said that GB following Northern Ireland's FREE voter ID card would solve that particular issue. And guess what? GB is providing FREE voter ID cards to those who need one! Next

sure, I refer you to my post a few up for the next…..

They’re also not locally issued so you’re wrong on that point

I mean the head of the Electoral Commission has openly criticised the government for their implementation of this. I don’t care if you support it - and it’s clear you support it because it benefits you - the evidence tells a different story

I see you want to blatantly ignore the Electoral Commission's report on the findings of the voter ID pilot scheme.

That's the source of the excerpts I've used. 🤦‍♂️

The Electoral Commission is very clear free voter ID cards is the solution.

Incorrect.

Locally issued in this context means Northern Ireland as per the Electoral Commission report excerpts.

In the context of the Voter ID legislation that passed in Parliament, it means England & Wales.

It does not apply to Scotland.

The UK is made up of THREE legal jurisdictions, not four:

England & Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has had ID requirements since 1985 and a Voter ID card since 2003.

England & Wales formally begin theirs in 2023.

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.

Correction: voter ID applies to Scotland for UK Westminster Parliament, Westminster By-elections and Recall Petitions ONLY.

It does NOT apply to Scottish Parliament Elections to Holyrood.

You do realise that criticism of the Government’s implementation of the voter ID scheme is completely different to opposition to voter ID...right?!

Here's a fact for you:

"Looking ahead, the time has come for England, Scotland and Wales to move towards a requirement for voters to produce ID at polling stations. This would strengthen the system and bring Great Britain into line with Northern Ireland and many countries where this is already in place."

Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission 8th January 2014

Yes, as far back as 2014 the Electoral Commission has been in favour of voter ID and they explained their reasoning.

Link here: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre/id-needed-polling-stations-recommends-independent-watchdog

Headline:

ID needed at polling stations, recommends independent watchdog

I put it to you that YOU are being selective and misrepresenting what the Electoral Commission have said.

The EC support voter ID in GB to bring it into line with Northern Ireland. True.

The EC believes the UK Government has not implemented it well enough in GB. True.

But...the EC are opposed to voter ID? False. 🤦‍♂️

I put it to you that YOU are being selective and misrepresenting what the Electoral Commission have said.

@DownNative you’re clutching at straws in that extremely long post. Im not mis-representing anything as it was a direct quote from the EC. Im not sure what posting something they said almost 10 years ago adds to the current conversation?

For anyone else needing a simple independent view on this try here.

www.electoral-reform.org.uk/campaigns/voter-id/

This scheme will cost £180m and is apparently to counteract around 50 cases of fraud out of 56 million votes.

Widespread voter fraud is pretty impossible because to change the outcome of an election there would need to be a large group of people going around casting hundreds of thousands of votes in a single day. Without being noticed. The odd person ‘stealing a vote’ doesn’t make any sense or difference. And doesn’t happen. That’s why we’ve never had ID and never needed it.

www.electoral-reform.org.uk/campaigns/voter-id/

Maybe the govt looked at the advice the EC was giving and thought they were wrong. After all you disagree with them on having a longer lead in time because everyone would wait til the last minute to apply anyway. It would be pointless.

The travel cards allowed are oyster 60+ card, older persons travel card and disabled persons travel card. That's because the owner of those cards already had to provide a mound of evidence to prove their identity, such as passport details, birth certificates, bills etc to obtain one. Ordinary oyster cards and most, if not all, travel passes do not require that amount of information.

My foot is feeling remarkably healthy.