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.

I need to sort something for DD who has just turned 18, she doesn't want to learn to drive and doesn't have a passport. My plan was to apply for the free voter ID.

I'm torn overall though, it does put an extra barrier to voting, but it is also not a massive hurdle for most. And surely if people are far too overwhelmed or busy to be sorting this out, then they are not likely to be bothered about turning out to vote for the Police Commissioner and a Regional Mayor. (In my area at least) The push now needs to make sure people have it in place for a GE incase it a snap election.

People knew about this last year

My voting card does say that expired ID is okas long as the photo is still a good likeness of you (are they ever, even when valid?) a temporary voter authority certificate has to be valid though, but I'm not sure how long they are valid for.

@Talulahalula you’re too busy to apply for a free photo ID to vote, bit do have a spare 5 mins to scroll/post on MN?

Bonkers. You’re actually being patronising here. Just because people are poor, or work long days, it doesn’t make them too thick to complete a very quick ID request form, which takes literally two minutes out of their day. If people feel strongly about voting, they will make sure they do what’s needed to do so.

There’s no evidence anyone is gaming the system.

And if it was genuinely about voter fraud, why are OAPs allowed to use their freedom passes / 60+ Oyster cards, but young people aren’t allowed to use their photo Oyster cards?

It’s about disenfranchising voters less likely to vote Tory. Even JRM admitted as much.

I’m surprised she doesn’t want a provisional licence for ID it’s the go to for DD’s friends even if not having lessons as it goes in back of phone case. Even if they don’t drink some pubs around here won’t let them in without ID.

And?

And not everyone did know about it

• "awareness of the need to bring ID to vote at a polling station was high – 92% of people were aware of the need to bring ID to vote at a polling station, although awareness was significantly lower among people who said they did not have an accepted form of ID (74%)

Report on the May 2023 local elections in England | Electoral Commission

At no point have I said they are too thick to do it, I have said being from a disadvantaged background makes it harder to complete extra tasks like registering for government provided ID.
Do you think you should really want to vote to be able to? Or is just simply wanting to vote enough?

She's not bothered about going to the pub. (Don't worry, her younger sister is going to take her share of troublesome teen on 😂)

I will sort her out a PASS age card, just this is quicker and easier in the meantime if she is wanting to vote for random elected roles.

If someone really did want to vote then this would not be a barrier and they would find a way to vote.

Its been this way for over a year.

I said it has taken me five years to renew my passport, and I have now done it, so is mindless scrolling when I am in bed allowed now, or do I have to be gainfully occupied in all my waking hours even if I have been up since 6am?

OK then. Only people who REALLY want to vote will get to vote. Those who just simply want to vote can get stuffed. Fuck democracy, anyway.

Do you realise with your posts you are going around in circles?
I have read a few of them and you're literally saying the same thing. People have pointed out other options (postal vote, free ID) yet you decide to just go around in circles.

Oh well that’s ok, then.

Disenfranchising a vast majority of the educated population is fine if the parties don’t rely on their vote.

What fucking nonsense.

No-one of the correct age and heritage to vote should be prevented from doing so, whether or not their vote matters in the overall results.

Mindblowing that you should even think this gerrymandering is acceptable. So much for believing in democracy- or is it only democratic when the important people vote?

What have being poor got to do with it? Do they have less brain cells than everyone else? Well going by the op I wonder

Photo ID cards for UK residents could solve the issue.

So are they going to be bothered about voting in local elections or Police & Crime Commissioner elections then? Which is what is happening on May2
Also does not need to be current ID as long as the photo is recognisable - an expired passport/ bus pass etc is fine.

There is currently plenty of voting fraud

Yes, and frankly I'm sick.of.repeating the fact that by adding more requirements, fewer people will be able to vote. And disadvantaged people are more likely to be the ones who either don't have photo ID in the first place, or, by effect of having a harder life, are less able to obtain it. Yes, they are literally able to, but due to various factors are less LIKLELY to do so.

Have you finished your rant yet. It's tiresome.

There are solutions available.

You’re going to need a citation for this nonsense.

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

They don't.

How would you deal with voting fraud?

What has heritage got to do with my response

and my response was to the idea the students are being somehow prevented from voting

It’s not the OP’s fault you can’t understand basic logic.

People who are time / resource / education poor are less likely to jump through hoops to vote. Even if that hoop is as simple as filling out an online form.

You might think ‘fuck them, they should care more’ but those of us who believe in democracy think ‘fuck the Tories for trying to disenfranchise parts of the population who would never vote for them’.

There is no evidence of any widespread voter fraud, and the minimal amount there is is via postal votes - which don’t require any proof of identity. So the idiotic gerrymandering government have addressed a problem that doesn’t exist (in person voter fraud) without even touching the tiny amount that does exist (postal voter fraud). Incompetent or deliberate, it matters not - it’s still outrageous.