The likely few Britons heading to the polls on May 4th for the latest round of local elections will have to present photo identification or be turned away for the first time, in what has been described as “the biggest change to in-person voting in 150 years.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this would help to ensure that elections are “high-integrity processes,” but opponents have warned against the “discriminatory policy” which they claim “will disenfranchise millions of voters”—particularly minorities.
As is often the case, the truth is likely to lie somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. The debate over voter ID appears to be an American import, but it is far less contentious here than it is across the pond. Reports show there was not a single proven case of in-person voter fraud last year across the whole of Britain. Calls for the checks to be introduced do, however, go back quite some time, not least because the UK is an outlier not only compared to the U.S. but also much of Europe when it comes to identity checks—for now, at least.
Difficult as it may be to argue that checks are essential for the establishment of fair elections, it is also hard to comprehend how necessitating photo ID at polling booths will exclude millions from elections. (That is unless one considers the shoddy organisation of the scheme’s introduction—more on this soon.) Voters can choose from over 20 forms of ID when heading to the vote. These, of course, include a passport, driving licence, or a national identity card, but also a blue badge, issued to help those with disabilities or health conditions with parking, a free Oyster 60+ travel card, and a free older person’s bus pass. Government officials have even announced that the form of identification need not even be in date, so long as the picture “still looks like you.”
Some opponents of voter photo ID claim the ruling Conservative Party has introduced the scheme simply to aid their electoral efforts. It is suggested that young voters, who tend to vote for Labour over the Tories, are less likely to know about the rule, or perhaps even to bear photo ID cards, than older voters who are more likely to favour the Conservatives. (It should be noted that while an older person’s bus pass is considered an acceptable form of ID, a young person’s rail card is not.) Whatever the motive of the rollout, its chaotic launch suggests something different is underway at least to intelligent interference. One Tory campaign leaflet wrongly told voters that photo IDs are not required in the local elections, blaming a “printing error,” while even senior government officials have been accused of ignorance regarding the workings of the scheme. The polls will close at 10 p.m.
