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Photo ID rules ‘discouraged some people from voting’ – Electoral Commission

10 Sep 2024 4 minute read
Gorsaf Bleidleisio / Polling Station

Around 16,000 people could not vote in the general election because of the photo ID requirements, while others were put off from going to the ballot box entirely, a watchdog has found.

The Electoral Commission said the vast majority of voters were able to cast their ballots in July’s contest despite the need to show ID.

But 0.08% of people who tried to vote in Great Britain were unable to do so, the watchdog said.

The commission’s analysis, compiling polling station data and public opinion research, found 0.25% of people were initially turned away, but two-thirds returned later with the necessary documentation.

Polling for the commission also suggested that around 4% of people who did not vote in the election said their decision was related to the voter ID requirement.

The evidence suggests that people from poorer backgrounds who did not vote were more likely to say it was because they did not have any accepted ID, the commission said.

Discouraged

Electoral Commission chief executive Vijay Rangarajan said: “This was the first time all voters across the UK were required to show photographic ID at a general election, and the data shows almost everyone was able to do so successfully.

“However, our research shows that the need for ID discouraged some people from voting – and we don’t want to see any voters lose their say.

“Public awareness of the need for voter ID is high across the UK, but there are still groups of voters that are less likely to be aware of the need to show ID or that do not have an accepted form.

“Everyone eligible should have the opportunity to vote, which is why we are recommending changes that will support those who do not currently have ID and improve the accessibility of elections, while maintaining the security of the process.

“The commission will review how our public campaigns and other work can continue to support the effective implementation of voter ID and minimise the barriers to voting.”

Labour’s election manifesto committed to “address the inconsistencies in voter ID rules that prevent legitimate voters from voting”.

Accepted ID

The commission called for the Government to review the list of accepted ID to identify any additional documents that could be added, such as the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card and the 18+ Student Oyster photocard, in addition to the Veteran Card.

The watchdog called for a review of the voter authority certificate and consideration of whether it could be issued digitally to encourage greater take-up.

And the commission also suggested registered voters with ID should be able to make an attestation to vouch for someone at a polling station without a suitable document.

Separate figures compiled by the PA news agency, using data obtained from local authorities, shows how the margin of victory in some seats at the election was close to the number of people unable to vote.

In the constituency of Poole, which Labour’s Neil Duncan-Jordan won by just 18 votes, 14 voters were recorded as not returning to polling stations after being turned away for not having the correct photo ID.

Some 14 potential voters did not return to polling stations in Basildon & Billericay, where Conservative Richard Holden won by only 20 votes.

In Cambridgeshire North West, where Labour’s Sam Carling won by 39 votes, six potential voters did not return after being turned away, while in Devon Central – won by Mel Stride for the Conservatives by 61 votes – 16 did not come back.

Underestimated

Some of the data recorded at polling stations is likely to be incomplete or inaccurate, meaning the reported figures underestimate the impact of the photo ID requirements, the Electoral Commission said.

As such, it is possible the outcome in Poole and other narrowly-won seats may have been different had the rules not been in place.

There are also examples of constituencies reporting more than 100 potential voters not returning to cast a ballot, while others said every voter returned, pointing to inconsistency in how some of the figures were recorded.

Photo ID rules were brought in by Boris Johnson’s government as part of the Elections Act 2022, as the then-government said they were necessary to combat the risk of in-person voter fraud.

Mr Johnson was himself turned away from a polling station at the May 2024 local elections after forgetting to take a photo ID.

The commission’s analysis of the impact on July’s general election was based on data collected by polling station staff and a YouGov poll of 5,863 adults between July 4 and 26.


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Jeff
Jeff
24 days ago

This was voter suppression. Nothing else. Trump playbook 101.

Bet Johnson “forgot” his id on purpose.

John Ellis
John Ellis
24 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

This was voter suppression. Nothing else. Trump playbook 101.’

Agree. No other explanation for introducing such heavy-handed legislation to combat a barely discernible problem.

Jack
Jack
24 days ago

They can adapt and use postal voting, it’s not tricky. Not suppresion, just change to which people can adapt.

Jeff
Jeff
24 days ago
Reply to  Jack

Or they can use the method that has had next to zero wrong doing for ages, turning up with the poll card. This was nothing more than suppression. It was the plan. It targeted people the Tory party had a pretty good idea who were not voting for them anyway.

More Tory MP’s have been convicted in recent years than there are voter issues.

Howie
Howie
24 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

Forgot about the Labour council candidates who were caught with signed but not voted postal votes in a Birmingham trading estate by Police.
Like everything criminal it only comes to light if unearthed.
Voting rights were hard won and anything to protect that right should be done. Including providing valid identity documents to those who need them.

Jeff
Jeff
24 days ago
Reply to  Howie

You register, you get a slip of paper and that is ticked off at the booth. The votes you refer to were what, 10 years ago? Postal? No ID needed? And local election re run. So, ID would have made no difference. Do we ban postal voting then?

Welsh Patriot
Welsh Patriot
24 days ago

“Photo ID rules ‘discouraged some people from voting’ – Electoral Commission”
or to put it another way…

Photo ID rules ‘discouraged other people from illegally voting’ – Electoral Commission

If I need ID to pick up a parcel, why don’t I need ID to Vote???

Owain Morgan
Owain Morgan
24 days ago
Reply to  Welsh Patriot

Prove it?! I’ll wait🥱🕰️

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission HAS proven that voters were denied the right to vote in closely fought Constituencies. Now considering the varying levels of reporting by polling officers it is reasonable to conclude that the results in one or more of those seats could have changed had ALL voters who wanted to vote been able to. As for your point about voter ID, when deprived voters are assisted to access it or the law is changed to allow for more forms then it is acceptable. Otherwise it is simply voter suppression.

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