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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find the fact we can vote without ID fairly worrying?

72 replies

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 06/05/2010 13:43

A few months ago somebody came to our house asking me to confirm the person on the electoral register but also asked if there was anyone else to be added.

In fact years and years ago I added ExH without him being present.

So, for example, in my friends house she could have added the names of the 4 other non British Citizens in the household and surely they would then be on the register?

OP posts:
toccatanfudge · 06/05/2010 13:44

exH is on the electoral register (down to vote for today - I saw his name on the list under mine) - he's not a British Citizen, qualifying Commonwealth Citizens with leave to remain in the UK can vote.

Bramshott · 06/05/2010 13:45

I want to know what's to stop me going to the polling station and saying "Hi I'm

Haliborange · 06/05/2010 13:46

You can also go to the polling station and vote without a polling card or ID.
One of my friends (a Labour voter) is away so presumably I could nip down, pretend to be her and put an "X" next to the Tory candidate on her behalf...

SloanyPony · 06/05/2010 13:47

Nothing, probably. That is scary!

toccatanfudge · 06/05/2010 13:47

but yes you're right it is a little odd isn't it.

EddieIzzardismyhero · 06/05/2010 13:47

Nothing can stop you, but there are big signs outside warning you it's illegal!

The reason you don't need ID is so as not to disenfranchise those people who don't have any ID.

A difficult one.

Original poster
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 06/05/2010 13:47

This is my point Halibo

Surely they should request either a council tax bill or photo ID?

OP posts:
toccatanfudge · 06/05/2010 13:48

I voted this morning with no card and no ID -and had to give a different address from my current one as I'm not registered here yet (and I ballsed it up twice giving my new address to both people before realising my mistake)

EddieIzzardismyhero · 06/05/2010 13:48

What if you don't have a bill or photo ID though?

toccatanfudge · 06/05/2010 13:49

all my bills are in my new address, and I dn't have photo ID that's valid at the moment so I'd have been stuffed

Original poster
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 06/05/2010 13:49

I could have said 'Oh yes my (imaginary) housemates are x, y and z'

I could have then received 4 polling cards and gone around the various stations to post them.

The postal voting thing could surely be exploited the same way....

OP posts:
Haliborange · 06/05/2010 13:50

Perhaps they rely on voter apathy and figure noone could be bothered to don a fake tasche and go to the polling station twice.

This election could be interesting, I met 2 first time voters in their 40s there today, so maybe relying on apathy will no longer be enough.

KerryMumbles · 06/05/2010 13:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 06/05/2010 13:51

If you don't have a council tax bill then surely you shouldn't be voting?

OP posts:
EddieIzzardismyhero · 06/05/2010 13:52

"If you don't have a council tax bill then surely you shouldn't be voting?"

Really? Why?

What about teenage children?

kerrymumbles, sounds incredible doesn't it, but people without ID do exist.

Hohumchops · 06/05/2010 13:53

i think it is shocking that we can do this and my european friends think it is hilarious and vote in our elections whenever they can - even if they are not allowed to - cos no one stops them!

I hate that it is a mockery, when so many brits are too apathetic to vote.

However, if our local council actually sent us any polling cards, that would've been useful.....thankfully their website had a vague dot on a map indicating where the polling station was otherwise we'd have had no clue. As it was we had to wander down the road and hope to see some signs up.

An embarrassing shambles...

toccatanfudge · 06/05/2010 13:54

what - if you don't have a council tax bill you shouldn't be voting - what an odd thought.

The first time I voted I was 18, I didn't have a council tax bill.......I was still at school certainly had no bills of my own to worry about! And I was registered to 400 miles from my "home" as I was at school in Scotland and my parents voted in the constituency they spent most time.

KerryMumbles · 06/05/2010 13:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Itsjustafleshwound · 06/05/2010 13:56

Aren't there some cases reported recently in the news about fraudulent voting in London boroughs (Tower Hamlets!)

I am amazed at just how easy it is to vote - the last thing you want is to start including ID and registration for voting. Most of the time is taken up with verification of your ID and checking your hands for UV ink to ensure you aren't voting twice ...

EddieIzzardismyhero · 06/05/2010 13:56

Labour abandoned plans for a compulsory ID scheme - not sure what the Tories policy is on it.

AbsOfCroissant · 06/05/2010 13:56

I think it's quite shocking, and so open to abuse. I could go and vote today (if I manage to convince them that I'm a man) as my flatmate is in Leeds and very unlikely to vote. It's wrong, IMO.

SecretPollingBooth · 06/05/2010 13:56

i wondered that bramshott
if you were caught (as you would be if she'd voted first) what would happen??

Original poster
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 06/05/2010 13:58

Of course..if you are still living with your parents. But then you could at least go along with them and they can 'represent you' as it were.

But..who doesn't have a birth certificate, as an example?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 06/05/2010 13:58

I have no ID. Bit of a bugger as they won't let me open a bank account without any.

ShowOfHands · 06/05/2010 13:58

Birth certificate isn't ID though. Nowhere accepts it.