Photo ID to vote is a flagrant cladding attack

[Pireck]

You will need photo ID to vote in the general election this year. This won't be a problem for me personally as I have it, but many of the people where I grew up are too poor to drive or travel abroad. Many people in this country don't have valid photo ID, and they shouldn't have to to shell out a significant amount of money they likely don't have in order to cast their vote. An absolutely flagrant attack on the poor and otherwise deprived.

The title is supposed to read classist, not cladding.

If there's a chance they 'might not vote anyway' does that mean their ability to vote doesn't matter?
This thread has really opened my eyes to how little some people care about having a democracy, one where everyone who wants to vote can, with ease and few barriers.

No one has yet to provided a good argument why we should spend money providing people with ID to vote.

It's not my rights I am worried about, it's everyone's. Voter ID was introduced to "solve" a problem that didn't exist. There's absolutely no need for it and, in fact, by their own admission, it backfired on the Tories. I'm confident it'll be revoked following the impending change of government 👍🏻

Not much point if you have a Tory MP.

It's not literal gerrymandering because that specifically refers to changing physical voting boundaries.

But it is a reasonable metaphorical description to use, because it matches the key feature of gerrymandering:
"politicians picking their voters instead of voters picking their politicians." The intention, as admitted by the Tory party chairman of the time, was to make Labour voters less likely to vote.

There were other arguments put forward of course. Given that I did once turn up at a poll station to be told "according to our list you've already voted" I give those arguments a bit more credence than other people on this thread.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

Given that I did once turn up at a poll station to be told "according to our list you've already voted" I give those arguments a bit more credence than other people on this thread.

Probably because the polling clerk ticked the wrong name in error. That could just as easily happen with ID.

Yes, it's perfectly plausible that she just crossed off the wrong name by mistake. I can't see my constituency being a target for electoral fraud, it's had an unassailable majority for decades.

But it does tend to undermine one's faith in the system, perhaps illogically.

You can tell people about the dangers of undermining democracy, but you can't make them think.

You’ve always needed it in Northern Ireland.

I always thought it was bonkers elsewhere that I could walk in and give a name/address and vote.

To me it's a bit mad that ID was not required before now. I live in Northern Ireland, I'm in my 30's and have always had to have ID to vote.

@mylittleworld563 I've always found it strange that you didn't need ID to vote until last year in England, you need ID for so many other things. Do you think it stops people voting in Northern Ireland, is there help for people who might struggle to obtain it?

Excellent sensible post. Take note OP.

Well no, because gerrymandering is a word with a very clear definition and it was used incorrectly.

NI you have always need photographic ID and they supply free cards if needed

According to OP, you aren't a democracy 😂

Case closed.

I actually dispute poor background equals not voting. My background is poor mining village. If anything everyone voted and was a member of union. There was much political interest and people took pride in voting.

Nearly everyone had a bus pass who couldn't afford cars

Really? NI is one of the most politically engaged places Iv lived for better or worse

Anecdotally, there seem to be more undelivered postal votes than undelivered mail generally: make of that what you will.

Regardless of whether it's deliberate or not, the postal voting system is not fit for purpose. All the more reason not to complicate in-person voting unnecessarily.

If any of these 'downtrodden' individuals are claiming UC, getting ID will be a walk in the park.

I can think it is a shitty idea, whilst also not thinking that it will be a significant barrier for the majority who would vote to overcome.

Getting a passport means getting a professional to sign the form. GP's generally refuse to do it. I found it hard, myself. If you move a lot, don't attend church, and don't have a lot of professionals in your circle, it can be really hard to do.

(I actually asked my children's head teacher and she said she wasn't comfortable with it.)

Actually, it doesn't. You have to upload a photo of your ID to register for a postal vote. I checked.

If it's a new passport for someone or a child , do you still need to get a professional to sign off the forms?
I remember that being a pain to do back in the day , but no idea if it's still the case now ?
Some GPs charge to do it.

Only some bus passes. Not the ones for young people, though.

"Young" people will almost certainly have some kind of photo ID proof as they'll need something to be served in pubs and clubs.