Photo ID

[blackcherryconserve]

I just wonder how many people are unable to vote simply because they never travel or drive a car. Most presumably cannot afford to buy a passport just so they are able to vote? This is prompted by talking to a lady in the supermarket queue this week who said she couldn't afford a passport. Yes there is postal voting but I suspect many people are less aware of this option than the fact we've been bombarded with messages about bringing photo ID with us when we vote tomorrow. Also judging by latest news there is going to be a number of postal votes going missing!

You mean the free ID people have been advertising heavily for months? https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

Don't get me wrong, it's a farce, but people have had a long time to prep for this.

There’s a free voter ID people could apply for which has been massively publicised since last year when all this came in. Also, there are loads of other IDs people can use, including the free bus pass over 65s get from the council. It’s not just passports or driving licences.

Yes people have had plenty of time to apply for the special voter ID.
All the information is on the polling card.
If people haven't read the information then too late.

The available types of ID is very skewed towards older people.

Anyone can apply for the free voter id, it's not just available to older people

I think the skewed thing is that a bus pass for the elderly can be used as ID but a student travel card can’t

Most people dealt with this at last year's local elections or at this year's May elections.

Free voter authority certificates were available for anyone who is entitled to vote, from the local council, or people could vote by post so there is no reason why people cannot vote if they want to.

You'd have had to live under a rock not to know it is available and how to get one.

I appreciate that this question is off the topic but does anyone know if I have to take ID with me tomorrow when I go to hand in my postal vote? I left it a bit late to be sure that my vote will get there on time as we are having some mail delays here. So, I’m planning to deliver my envelope to my polling station but I cannot find out if I need ID.

I guess I could just make sure I have my driving licence with me just in case!

@Ihateslugs

I believe you can hand in your own postal vote and up to 5 others so I would say no but if you have it I'd take it just in case

I think they estimate it's about two million.

Mostly people who have challenges of some sort like people in poverty, the blind the disabled, the housebound and the elderly for example, for whom it's not as easy to find the information, get passport photos done and apply as it might be for us.

People with ADHD too, because of their problems with forward planning and working through all the steps to get things done.

Apparently you've to fill a form in when you hand it in.

I applied for my free voter ID before the May election. It didn't arrive despite them telling me it was on the way. 3 days later I had an email telling me my photo hadn't been accepted.
I reapplied for this election. My ID is apparently, once again, on its way.
I know people who's postal votes never arrived.

I asked the question as I have both passport and driving licence. The number of messages about taking photo ID had been overwhelming and I must have been under a rock not to know about free voter certificates then. Thanks.

I handed mine and DH's in for the local elections. I wasn't asked for ID but I had to sign a piece of paper to say I wasn't a political canvasser and, as PP said, there was a limit to the number I could hand in.

I tried applying for the voter id but apparently my current I'd and marriage certificate will be enough, I can see being turned away tbh.

@Boogiemam at the recent London mayor elections I had my passport (out of date and in maiden name) plus my marriage certificate and it was fine. They looked at the passport but didn't actually check the certificate.

A friend was telling me today that they applied for the free voter ID 4 weeks ago, and still haven't recieved it. They're resigned to not being able to vote tomorrow, I'd be absolutely furious if it were me.

Your friend could apply for an emergency proxy vote until 5pm tomorrow - they need someone with ID to assist them though.

That's interesting, thank you!

That's appalling.

I've got one of those free voter id things. Dh has his driving licence and ds1 has his provisional.

I agree with the majority of posters.
You'd have to have been under a bush not to have picked up this information over the last couple of years.

It potentially didn't stick in your mind OP as you don't need it, whereas if you knew you couldn't vote as you didn't have a passport or driving licence or senior citizen bus pass, then you'd have pricked your ears up and remembered, or investigated what you had to do.

There is so much misinformation out there.

Here is the list of acceptable ID: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id

Note it includes Blue Badges, disabled bus passes, Pass cards. Lots more than just a passport or driving license. You can use an expired form of ID. There is an anonymous option for people with very serious concerns about anyone knowing their name and address.

On top of this, there’s the free Voter ID option, or you could have a postal vote or a proxy vote. It is still possible to arrange an emergency proxy vote, you have to contact your local council before 5pm tomorrow.

Yes, requiring ID is a barrier to voting. But it is not as big a barrier as a lot of people portray it to be.

Thanks for the info on emergency proxy votes. If I can find somewhere to print the form I'll ask DS to for on my behalf. Unless the iD turns up tomorrow that is!

You can apply for free voter ID. I don’t travel now, but I keep my passport up to date, as banks etc also sometimes want official ID.

We were in one of the pilot areas for voting ID. It’s fairly simple.