Voter ID will be required from next year

[Emotionalsupportviper]

Voters will need photo-ID to vote in May 23 local/Mayoral elections and at the next General Election.
If you don't have a passport or photo-driving licence you can get a free Voter ID at citizencard.com using code FREEVOTERID.
Please spread the word. #ukelections

Thanks to CitizenCard on Twitter for the above information.

The discussion is on this thread

twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1601520797579116544

This already happens in Northern Ireland.

Free ID is available from local council.

We really need to get the word out there so that people are aware they are necessary and how to apply for one.

Another govt sleight-of-hand.

Thanks for the heads up!

I don't object to ID per se, but this hasn't been widely publicised.

There are calls for it to be pushed back to after May, as councils are not ready and most people don't know about it.

It's a total waste of money. NI has had for years but that's not a reason to extend it.

I do object to this, it is intentional voter suppression.

I work in policy and haven't even heard of this!!!

All the stupid letters I get needing to reconfirm the electoral roll at my address, and they couldn't mention this?

@Emotionalsupportviper @pigonalipstick
this appears to be scam

See this

@Lost2010 the fact that ID will be needed isn't a scam, I went and checked. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9187/

The 'scam' is whether CitizenCard will be accepted or not as voter ID. I haven't found any evidence of this.

And even to get a CitizenCard as your first form of photo-ID, look at the strict referee requirements:

Your chosen referee must:
.work in a recognised profession where their business details can be verified and are published/advertised in online professional business directories
.be contactable at their registered business address via email and on their work telephone number during office hours i.e. Mon-Fri, 9.00 - 17.00 – we will definitely call them!
.not be related to you or in a personal relationship with you (cannot be a guardian, foster carer, spouse, civil partner, fiancé, boyfriend/girlfriend)
.not live with you
.be aware of this application and the reference they are providing
.complete the Digital Referee Declaration Form after you finish uploading your file(s) online.

That's one hell of a hurdle for a lot of people.

I heard about this a few weeks ago, seems strange to go from not needing any form of proof (like the voting card that comes through your door) to needing photo id. Also I wonder what will happen with the postal ballots?

Is this definitely happening? DP has just said he didn't think the legislation got through parliament.

It passed in April. See my link above

Indeed @AutumnCrow

I'm viscerally against voter ID. It's a solution in search of a problem - the number of personation cases is tiny. Postal votes are a much greater potential cause of voter fraud.

The Conservatives want to eliminate from the roll those least likely to vote Conservative - it's the US Republican playbook. And it's a ratchet to full ID cards. Both main parties show an unhealthy love for ID.

Thank you for this.

I understood it to be the genuine article (and also that there was no charge) , but it seems I may be wrong. Councils (as far as I am aware) have an obligation to provide free ID for purposes of voting. If I'm wrong about this please someone let me know.

It is indeed a hell of a hurdle - and one likely to disenfranchise the people least likely to vote Tory. The least well-educated and the most vulnerable will be denied to chance to vote because many will be discouraged both by the complexity of the paperwork and the time consumed by filling in these applications.

There's a surprise.

Good, this stops some people voting twice.

What classes as a recognised profession? I know you used to be able to use Dr/ Nurse/teacher/religious leader.
All of which I know personally, none of whom are necessarily contactable Mon-Fri, 9-5.

No update on my local council website that I can find about this , but I’ve looked at others that say a voters certificate will be available at a later date . I wonder how long they will be valid for , and also can that be circumnavigated by swapping to a postal vote . If so that would seem odd as postal voting has always seemed more open to fraud . Will go any search for answers myself but just pondering .

It also stops many people voting once.

Blatant voter suppression.

There’s practically zero voter fraud in this country.

Of course the proposed forms of free photo ID that those without DL or PP will not be ready on time.

Absolutely disgusting manipulation by the govt. but hey, pretty much everything they do is awful these days.

There is no evidence that this is a significant problem. However, requiring voter id is a form of voter suppression.

Hi "it was a steal" Donald. Just how big a problem do you think some possible minute voter fraud might be compared to the number of people who don't even vote already?

What else would one expect from the most dishonest, amoral and corrupt U.K. government in living memory….