New proposals for voter identification.

Good posts Flexagon ??

PippaZ

Lin52

rosie1959

Lin52

rosie1959

Alegrias1

A benefit for those without a passport or a driving license they will now have some photographic ID

Why do they need one? My mum's lasted 83 years without one, why start now?

Times are changing try opening a bank account or taking out a mortgage

Think she must have had an ID card during the war.

Did very young children have ID cards

Yes, every man, woman and child had to carry one.
www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/war/idcards.html

But we are not in a state of war and there really is no problem with voter impersonation or fraud. This is a solution in search of a problem. There isn't one.

No we are not, just pointing it out that we did have them rich and poor.

GillT57

But we have never had any thought about voter fraud until this latest Queen's speech when the idea was planted in people's heads? Yes, I could pinch my neighbour's voting card when I visit and then go and vote as her, put on a wig and glasses and then vote as myself......but, why would I? The list is ticked as you enter the polling station so assuming my neighbour also voted, it would throw up an anomoly and be a security issue surely? Most polling stations are small affairs with a handful of people, to make multiple visits as different people would take a master of disguise and all day. Why would you?

Had thoughts of voter fraud since the Tower Hamlets scenario in 2012. How much more escapes the radar, especially with postal votes. Yes I know there are security measures, but where there is a will there is a way. Cynical, yes.

How will voter photo ID work if you have a postal vote? Just a thought.

You won't need it for a postal vote. It's for people who turn up at polling stations.

There is no need for it with postal votes because you'll have given an address to which the relevant paperwork (or electronic link) will be sent.

You mean like the address where they send your voting card?

I was thinking that Alegrias. You beat me to it.

Yes. I’ve never done a postal vote so I don’t know the details but I imagine there is at least some level of security and ID checking. No method is perfect.

Perhaps someone who has done a postal vote can enlighten us

Or google can: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971901/Application-to-vote-by-post.pdf

I have a postal vote. You register with your local council for one. You give your details and signature. The voting slip comes to your address with 2 return envelopes A and B. The slip goes in A which then goes inside B or the other way round to maintain anonymity for secret ballot purposes. It comes at least a week before the vote and you have to return it by a certain time or if you miss the post you can take it to the polling station in person where you just hand it in.

Flexagon has clearly pointed out several reasons why this proposed legislation is vital.

The idea is not new, and certainly not slipped under the radar, so I hope this time it becomes law.
Other countries have this so why not us?

What are protesters afraid of?

How easily people can be persuaded to give up their rights.

That's what I'm afraid of.

There is a national identity card in France. It is not compulsory but everyone must possess some form of government issue identity documentation. The French are different to us Brits and have no objection to carrying one.

However, I see ID cards as just another way in which the police can intimidate certain groups of the population. I lived in Brixton during the riots and one reason for them were the stop and search powers. The powers are supposedly targeted and intelligence led and practiced upon people who are suspected of being involved in crime. That sounds reasonable but in fact those powers were frequently abused.

For this reason I am opposed to the carrying of ID cards. I quite understand that there are already several types of ID card in use - such as a driving licence. But I don't see a policeman stopping someone walking along the street being stopped and asked for one.

25Avalon

I thought the problem was with voters such as students registering to vote twice - once in their home town and once in their university town thus getting 2 votes. Thinking about it how would voter ID cards rectify this situation?

Still need photo ID for certain financial situations.

I know someone whose AC did that, voted at uni and at home. . Hard to see how photo ID would have prevented it, though.

My mum, in her late 90s has a passport, a driving licence (which she no longer uses) and a bus pass all of which have her photo on them. She has no objection to an identity card. Why is it ‘giving up her rights’?

Oh bother! She’ll not be pleased to read my post as she’s late 80s not 90s

Has anybody in a uniform stopped your mum in the street and asked to see her driving licence so she can prove who she is, and why she's there?

Has anybody stopped her accessing her rights as a citizen of this country, because she didn't have her bus pass with her?

Has anybody treated her like a second class citizen because she didn't have those things with her?

No. The answer's no. Not yet, anyway.

I have no idea how to get hold of photo ID.

I no longer have a valid passport and do not drive.

So what do people like me do? what will we do? I have a postal vote....will that continue?

oh just read a post earlier that says it is not needed for postal voting BUT I also have two friends who no longer drive because of age and disability and no valid passport.

What can they do?

Had the Govt given any guidence?

I have no problem with having an ID card and fail to see what rights it would take away from me.

We have to take two forms of ID with proof of our address and one with a photo, just to get into the recycling centre locally. An ID card would be simpler. Can’t really see why people get into such a tizzy over it.

If you don’t have ID how do you know people are not voting twice or three times ?

pinkquartz

oh just read a post earlier that says it is not needed for postal voting BUT I also have two friends who no longer drive because of age and disability and no valid passport.

What can they do?

Had the Govt given any guidence?

Party activists used to give lifts to people who couldn’t get the polling stations. Does that not still happen? ¿Perhaps it only happens in small communities?

pinkquartz

I have no idea how to get hold of photo ID.

I no longer have a valid passport and do not drive.

So what do people like me do? what will we do? I have a postal vote....will that continue?

If photo ID becomes compulsory I’m sure there will be ways to find out how to do it. There have already been comments about our local authorities will be asked to supply free photo ID to people who haven’t got it already.

OR, and this is a big OR, exceptions will be allowed as they are for almost everything else in life.

*how local authorities, not our

pinkquartz

I have no idea how to get hold of photo ID.

I no longer have a valid passport and do not drive.

So what do people like me do? what will we do? I have a postal vote....will that continue?

Why wouldn’t it?