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.

Exactly. Utter incompetence, as typical for the current breed of Tories.

Agree. Voter suppression pure and simple. Another bad habit from the good old USA. Some ppl have photo ID for work I suppose? This ploy will deter mainly younger voters. But it won't save them. They are toast to practically everyone under 70.

Stop talking so much sense 😉

This is satire, right? 🤔

But it's ok for some people not to have to make the effort because their photo ID is suitable but not for others.

Exactly.
Voter ID is free, or you can do a postal vote, but don't let that get in the way of a good hand wringing thread 😂

I think one thing that people are forgetting is THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION have concerns about voter ID, the type of ID required and the potential barriers.

But what do they know?

"We know that some groups are more likely to experience barriers created by the voter ID requirement and may need support to access photo ID.
Organisations working directly with voters, including local authorities and charities, can help voters make sure they have photo ID ahead of any election where this requirement applies.
We have produced a set of resources for use in England and Wales ahead of the elections on 2 May 2024. These resources will help organisations raise awareness, and support voters with applying for a Voter Authority Certificate, if needed. This pack also includes information on voter registration, and information tailored to the needs of specific groups.
A generic set of resources with information relevant to any election requiring photo ID is also available.
We have also published bespoke resources to support people who are registered to vote anonymously, or who might benefit from doing so. "

Voter ID | Electoral Commission

So it targets lazy people - should they be targetted or should the ID system be relaxed to include more ID?

See what Ireland uses for example - student ID, railcards, bank cards etc

I think you’ll find they know a lot less than the average anonymous Mumsnet user.

Still tumbleweeds regarding the actual facts regarding voter fraud / disenfranchisement / cost.

But yeah, those feckless idiots who can’t fill out a form. This’ll show ‘em.

How is voter fraud measured in poll station? Like how do they know Sharon of Kensington road in M13 who voted was actually Sharon of Kensington road in M13 rather than Jess from M11 who knew Sharon won't vote and went for it? (whether by herself or as organised tip off?)

If you know what I mean?

Edit to add. Not being shitty, just really curious as someone who grew up with state IDs.

Don’t let the fact it’s entirely unnecessary, disenfranchised 38 times more people than were even suspected of voter fraud, and costs £15million a year get in the way of a good missing the point reply 🤣

Not sure in uk, but this article suggests ‘advanced statistics and AI’ in USA.

I would wager that in-person voter fraud is really hard to do on any large scale. Just think about the logistics.

1. You’d need to identify people who weren’t going to vote at a given station.
2. you’d need to amass enough people to go and vote in their place so none of them went multiple times (to avoid suspicion from poll volunteers)
3. you'd need to ensure all the fake voters would keep absolutely quiet about it

To do this on the scale required to fix an election would be a conspiracy on the level of faking the moon landings.

Postal votes would be a lot easier to fake - but of course the voter ID requirements don’t affect postal votes.

Well quite.

But perhaps the Tories have more supporters than MN gives credit for. This is an entirely useless measure, then will nudge people towards postal voting (where fraud and coercion are higher). Bad policy, not well executed. Typical Tory

Imo if you can't be bothered to either apply for free ID, assuming you don't have a drivers license or passport, or organise a postal vote then you deserve to be disenfranchised.

Well IMO anyone who thinks like you deserves to be disenfranchised.

Luckily neither of us gets to make that call.

But I won't be disenfranchised because apart from the fact your opinion has no influence on voting rights, I can be bothered to get off my backside and take responsibility for myself.

Let’s hope your opinion is better judged when you come to vote.

That’s a high and mighty attitude from someone who admitted to ‘trying to get round capital gains tax’.

Not really what I’d consider taking responsibility for anything.

But you do you, babes.

I welcome some security at voting, even if it was just showing your polling card. Having to just say “Adam smith” and they even recite your address back to you not asking always felt so so unsafe. You just had to read the phone book before going in an voting under someone’s name.

I won’t be using voter ID it is the start of a slippery slope. Next you will need ID to go outdoors or drive a car

What do you think a drivers’ license is?

Don't let the evidence get in the way of your opinion.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65988959

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/how-voter-id-laws-discriminate-study/517218/

Add that to the 8 million missing from the electoral role, the 1 in 8 people rejected when applying for free id and you have a weakened democracy.

Mind you, having a poorly informed electorate also weakens a democracy.

Not because people have not used libraries enough to justify their existence for over 25 years then? Our library can be accessed whenever one wants to but it's usually used by those wanting the computers or by parents bringing their children into their section near school finishing time.

Not what because what? That’s a very unusual sentence structure.

Have you considered reading more to improve your writing?

Is this still going?

You really are a piece of work, OP. You’re completely right, anyone who has the gall to disagree with you is obviously completely wrong. You’re smart, they’re stupid and to emphasise just how superior your intellect, you add an insult.

Your thread really hasn’t gone as you’d hoped, has it?

If people are motivated to vote, they’ll find a way. It really is that simple.

(Awaits further insult.)