Mandatory voter ID plans labelled ‘exclusionary’

Equality and democracy campaigners have warned that government proposals to require voters to show ID during elections are ‘deeply damaging’ and could lock people out of the democratic process.

Reports have suggested the legislation, which requires voters in English and UK-wide elections to produce photographic identification, will be introduced in the coming months and that the new rules could come into force in time for the May 2023 local elections — a year before the next general election is due.

The Electoral Reform Society warned in February that the proposals were an ‘expensive distraction’ that could end up costing £20 million per general election, and would risk blocking many out of the process due to a lack of ID. Halima Begum, the director of the Runnymede Trust, a race equality think-tank, also warned that many voters do not have photo ID, and that such a move could potentially disadvantage those from BAME communities.

Ahead of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on race and community on the issue, Josiah Mortimer a spokesperson for the Electoral Reform Society, said: “When millions of people lack photo ID, mandatory photo ID would be deeply damaging.  This is totally the wrong priority right now, with £20 million per election having the potential to pay for 600 extra nurses each year. Instead, the government seems intent on turning polling staff into bouncers. Ordinary people will be locked out of the ballot box. Ministers should be expanding voter rights, not taking a crowbar to the already-critical cracks in our democracy.”