Windrush Generation

I have lived in a place where ID cards were introduced, the registration process wasn't too much of an issue it involved fingerprint and passport image.
The benefits were that included it driving license, work permit details, health insurance details and meant no waiting at immigration, no carrying photocopies of documents which had to be shown for just about everything, emergency situations could be dealt with promptly. In this particular country it was a good thing and it could be here. Most of the things that people express concerns about are generally in the public domain already or are of little security significance.

My main objection at the moment is that the HO couldn’t organise the proverbial in a brewery let alone a national ID card system??????

Ten years ago when Labour was going to introduce ID cards for everyone, they were expected to cost £100 or more. Not cheap for many people.
I think that if ID cards were introduced and to be made compulsory then they should be free.

I agree that if people are compelled to have an ID card then it should be free of charge. Some people might like the convenience of having an ID card and opt to do so, in which case there should, I think, be a charge. £100 is a lot of money though and I suppose there's a possibility that those who can't afford to pay this sort of amount might eventually be in a minority and end up being viewed with suspicion and subjected to more invasive and inconvenient security checks.

The Home Office is just too big to be efficient. I agree with loopylou. Absolutely. Perfect solution.

And yes, I’d love an ID card. At the moment in effect it’s my driving licence so why not make it official.

£100 is a lot of money though and I suppose there's a possibility that those who can't afford to pay this sort of amount might eventually be in a minority and end up being viewed with suspicion and subjected to more invasive and inconvenient security checks.
More than it costs for a passport in fact!

Yes ID cards should be free for everyone. As Eloethan says, anyone who couldn’t afford one would be treated as suspicious. You need ID for so many things now, renting a flat, buying a house, DBS (criminal records) checks for employment or even voluntary work, voting, opening a bank account etc.

I've never needed ID for voting..is this an England only thing or a new rule thats passed me by?

It is a new rule they are thinking about - not sure if it is everyone. ——-

It’s a pilot thing for the local elections this week paddy. Only in a few English towns. It’s because of allegations of electoral impersonation. Probably a sledgehammer to crack a nut as the amount of electoral fraud is thought to be tiny - 28 alleged cases in 2017.
You can’t help but think that the extra effort of finding documents will put people off voting even if they are not cheating.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/01/government-claim-of-voter-surge-misleading-says-watchdog?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

The trials are in Bromley, Woking, Watford, Gosport and Swindon only. I think you need to show photo ID and a utility bill. Sounds simple but is likely to put some people off voting.

that'll stop people who cant afford passports or dont have driving licenses from voting surely? Is that the idea ? Do people on low incomes have no right to vote ? Would they vote for the "wrong" party?

You may very well think so paddy.

The Welsh bus passes have photo ID.

My new passport photo looks nothing like me now they have digitised it or whatever they do.

The English bus passes also have photo ID as do student ID cards.

Does it look better ir worse Jalima ?

Surely most people would have a utility bill, if nothing else? I do think that if votes are being fiddled there should be a bit more scrutiny.

Not everyone over 18 would have a utility bill in their name. Youngsters living at home or in shared houses or in hostels wouldn’t usually.
I’m not sure if bus passes have photos certified by a professional person, unlike driving licences and passports. Mine wasn’t certified - it was quite casual. Would that be official enough?
But this is just a pilot project so the idea is they will find out how workable asking for ID is and also trying to work out if it puts people off voting.

mostly harmless is right, I wonder how large the group who don't have a utility bill in their name is. Our children like so many others, lived in shared accommodation when they left home.
My grandsons live in their mothers tenancy, they're over 18 but won't have utility bills. Neither of them are in employment currently either so if they lived in one of the target areas, would that leave them disenfranchised. I feel ill informed as I've no idea.
I've in the past felt opposed to ID cards but begin to wonder if, provided no one had to pay for them, it might not be the worst idea ever.

I don't think ID cards would deter people from voting it would however stop those who 'vote on behalf' of others a well recognised practice in some communities.

In the Swindon pilot area the voter just has to produce their polling card. They only have to have other ID if they don't have it with them. One assumes that different methods are being carried out in each of the different pilot areas.

I'd be perfectly happy with a polling card.

The evidence for voter fraud is minuscule - it really is. It wasn’t in NI so I can see why voter ID cards were introduced there.

My polling card was delivered ages ago - not everyone is organised enough to keep them especially as you have never needed them before to cast your vote

The evidence for voter fraud is minuscule

All of the five pilot areas say that they've never had any voter fraud. I can't help thinking that it is a diversionary tactic. It looks like 'strong' government action against abuse though it's rather meaningless if there isn't much abuse...

Joelsnan claims that voting 'on behalf' of another is a well known practice in some communities. Does she mean proxy voting? Which is perfectly legal, though I appreciate it could be open to abuse. If it is abused I can't see how producing voter ID is going to solve the problem.