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Photographic ID needed for next GE

(172 Posts)
newnanny Sun 13-Oct-19 13:59:40

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/10/12/voters-will-have-show-casting-ballot-prevent-electoral-fraud/

Boris is calling for photographic ID to be used at next GE to prevent fraudulent voting scams. Also a limit to amount of proxy votes a person can cast again to prevent voting scams. I think this is a very good idea. Any thoughts anyone?

GracesGranMK3 Mon 14-Oct-19 12:27:01

Some people just want to think the lived through their own war, complete with ID cards and rationing. I don't think the rest if us will ever work out just what sadness there is in their lives to make them think that would be better than what they have now.

Dinahmo Mon 14-Oct-19 12:20:42

ID cards, like other forms of cards that show our details, are open to abuse, by the police and any other jobsworth who is having a bad day.
3 examples spring to mind
- many years ago Frederic Raphael talking on the radio about being stopped whilst driving through Essex by the police - no reason given other than he was driving a large Jaguar and they didn't like the look of him.

- In 2000 the black Bishop of Stepney, (now Archbishop of York) John Sentamu was stopped outside St Paul's in the rain and asked to get out of his car and to open the bonnet
so that the constable could search it. No reason given. His dog collar was covered by a scarf. He was then asked what he did and as he told the office, he removed his scarf. Surprise, surprise he was told to be on his way.

- in 1968 2 of us were parked outside a fish and chip shop in Shepherds Bush whilst the car driver went inside. A policeman walked slowly around the cat, staring in at us and then asked where the driving licence was. Of course it was in its correct place in the front window. It was 1.00am and he was bored.

Stop and search was rife in the 80s and so will requests for IDs be in the 2020s.

trisher Mon 14-Oct-19 09:57:26

Can anyone explain to me how a photographic ID like a passport would identify the voter for certain? There are people with the same names, there is no address on a passport. The ID may prove John Smith is John Smith. It does not prove that John Smith is John Smith of 10 Appletree Avenue. It's a silly Tory stunt.

GracesGranMK3 Mon 14-Oct-19 09:27:32

petunia can you reference court cases showing this has been proved to be true rather than just rumour.

petunia Mon 14-Oct-19 09:15:45

We trialled voter ID in our area at the last election.

Personally, I think its a good idea. Across the border of our town there has been huge problems in the past with fraud and impersonation at local elections. Also fraud with postal votes, but that's another story. Councillors and some voters were using polling cards, allegedly, of uninterested voters to bump up the numbers. Huge scandal which was later brushed under the carpet.

GracesGranMK3 Mon 14-Oct-19 09:05:38

Nobody on this thread has actually told me WHY we should need voter ID. hmm

Because our Eton riddled government want to be sure they can hang on to power for ever? This may be only one of the attacks aimed at disenfranchising a new plebeian class.

SirChenjin Mon 14-Oct-19 08:34:51

Ill

SirChenjin Mon 14-Oct-19 08:34:43

You wouldn’t be able to prove your identity for postal voting or if you register online. Typical I’ll thought through, sledgehammer/nut approach from the Tories which doesn’t tackle the real problems facing the electoral system

annodomini Mon 14-Oct-19 08:26:29

I have a postal vote and can't imagine how I would prove my identity. In the past. I have voted by proxy for a relative who was away at the time of the election. I wonder how that would be managed.

Grany Mon 14-Oct-19 08:10:35

Worried about not having a Passport or Driving licence to pass the identity test when voting at the next General Election ?

VOTE BY POST INSTEAD
Here's the form you need

www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote

SpanielNanny Mon 14-Oct-19 07:51:59

I read an article yesterday that said 3.5 million people in the UK, currently have no photo ID. This number rises to 11 million who don’t currently hold a driving license or passport. These things can be very expensive, we are potentially pricing out a lot of potential voters (although I have a sad suspicion that that is exactly what the conservatives are trying to do).

I don’t object to having to take your polling card along with ANY other form of ID (bank card, utility bill etc). But if they are going to demand photographic ID then the government need to provide free national ID cards to all.

newnanny Mon 14-Oct-19 00:04:30

@MazieD
the officials at the polling stations have a list with your address and name on it. Which is crossed off when you get your ballot paper.

If you know a person e.g. your grandparent, who you know is definitely not going to vote and their address you just rock up and say you are that person living at that address. It would not be hard. You would need to be correct sex.

At the moment there is not even a date of birth attached to each person to give an indication of their age.

SirChenjin Sun 13-Oct-19 21:42:40

Here’s more on the real dangers facing our electoral system www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/13/conservatives-accused-of-election-rigging-leaked-id-plans-voter-fraud

MaizieD Sun 13-Oct-19 21:38:06

To prevent 'fraud' officially

So we all nod our heads and say, "Oh what a good idea" shock

Maybelle Sun 13-Oct-19 21:22:38

I do not have a passport, nor do I drive so I have no photo ID. So will not be able to vote ?

Hetty58 Sun 13-Oct-19 21:14:09

To prevent 'fraud' officially (although it is rare) or to make it more difficult and/or expensive to vote!

SirChenjin Sun 13-Oct-19 21:04:49

Because Boris said so, therefore it must be true. Keep up Maizie!

MaizieD Sun 13-Oct-19 20:44:01

Nobody on this thread has actually told me WHY we should need voter ID. hmm

Deedaa Sun 13-Oct-19 20:39:57

I've just come out of a long argument on Facebook about this. My points were:
1) People like my inlaws who had never had passports or driving licences and would stop voting rather than pay for something they didn't use.
2) There was a massive outcry last time identity cards were suggested because "The People" didn't want Big Brother watching them.
3) Generations of people have fought for everyone to have a right to vote. Why should they now have to pay to do so.
4) Some people have suggested bus passes and so on. When I got a card I could use as a bus pass I just told them who I was, it wasn't exactly secure.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 13-Oct-19 20:29:49

Kittylester ?????

kittylester Sun 13-Oct-19 20:18:59

I think it's a good idea.

But, when we go to vote, the officials say 'hi, kitty, mr kitty, how are you?'

aggie Sun 13-Oct-19 19:56:39

In Northern Ireland we need photographic I D to vote , have done for years

crystaltipps Sun 13-Oct-19 19:54:39

I think it was Tories that objected to ID cards as it was too “European” and smacked of state intrusion. I’ve lived in Italy where everyone has to carry ID cards, and it’s just accepted, and of course you can use it instead of a passport for many countries.

boheminan Sun 13-Oct-19 19:53:40

I have nothing to hide, but I do object to having to renew my passport or driving license at an extortionate amount of money when I never travel abroad or drive. Not everyone, for whatever reason, has the called for 'evidence' at hand (and I'm not talking about 'the poor' here). If the photo ID required to vote was provided free by the government I (probably along with hundreds of others) certainly would not object.

MamaCaz Sun 13-Oct-19 19:52:08

Firecracker123
About time in my opinion. I think everyone should have to carry photo ID. Obviously Labour and the lefties will protest par for the course.

Have you even read the other posts? If you had, you would see why some people object in this instance, and it's because they simply don't have any photo ID, and as things stand at the moment, I presume that the only way most of them could get it right now would be to 'buy' a passport, even though they don't otherwise need one!

Personally, I have nothing against bringing in a national identity card of some sort, but it should be totally free.
There's no chance of that being introduced before the next General Election.

As for your latest ignorant remark about "lefties" - yawn!