Mark Whitehead 25 May 2018

Mandatory ID ‘disenfranchises’ voters, electoral watchdog says

Electoral watchdogs have rejected a claim that a recent trial requiring voters to show ID was 'a great success'.

The Electoral Reform Society said the scheme in Woking - one of five areas to take part in pilots for the council elections on May 3 - proved voters were being turned away because they failed to show the correct documents.

The society's chief executive Darren Hughes said most of those turned away did not return with the correct papers, proving that ID requirements were 'a real barrier to people being able to vote'.

Woking returning officer Ray Morgan announced this week that 99.73% of electors in the borough provided the required identification at polling stations and only 51 people were refused a ballot paper.

Mr Morgan, who is also CEO of Woking BC, said 'I think we can call this trial a great success' and he saw 'no reason why bringing ID to vote cannot be embedded in our democratic process'.

But Mr Hughes said volunteers had seen 'countless absurd examples' of people being turned away in the trials which took place in Gosport, Bromley, Swindon and Watford as well as Woking.

He told LocalGov: 'What is evident from Woking is that the majority of those turned away did not come back: of the 89 people who attended a polling station either with the wrong ID or no ID, only 38 returned with new documentation to cast their vote.

'This shows clearly that the ID requirements were a real barrier to people being able to vote.

'Given that there’s not been a single verified allegation of “personation” in Woking in the past 10 years, these findings are more evidence that mandatory voter ID disenfranchises many times more honest voters than alleged “fraudulent” ones.

'Voters have paid a high price for this unnecessary experiment with our democracy.'

For more on this story check out our feature 'Voter ID: cure for fraud or unreliable encumbrance?'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Residential Assistant

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £25395.00 per annum
Residential AssistantPermanent, Full Time£25,081 up to £25,395 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Planning Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
Durham County Council is looking for experienced and knowledgeable Senior Planning Officers to join our vibrant Development Management team. Our team Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Head of Service – Social Care

Wrexham County Borough Council
G15 £63,148 - £67,058 per annum
There is an exciting opportunity within Children Social Care to join the senior management team Wrexham (Wrecsam)
Recuriter: Wrexham County Borough Council

Head of Service Social Work & Specialist Support

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Grade M scp 60 £72,118 - scp 64 £77,293
There couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us. Blackburn, Lancashire
Recuriter: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Cafe Assistant - Weald Country Park

Essex County Council
Up to £13.3000 per hour
Café Assistant (Weald Country Park)Contract
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner