New proposals for voter identification.

Are you saying that fraud doesn’t matter, then, if the cases are few?

In our imperfect world nothing works without a flaw and there are always people who try to buck the system. But one has to judge how valuable the imposition of photo ID, with its attendant costs, inconvenience, and potential to disbar a great many people from exercising their right to vote, is against the negligible effect on electoral outcomes of a a few fraudsters.

What do you want us to do Lemongrove? Politely say that we will happily give up our rights and discourage voting, just because some people keep on ignoring the evidence?

Pity any poor accused person who gets anyone on their jury intent on ignoring the truth and just going with their unfounded beliefs.

Am I the only Gransnetter who has sat outside polling stations and seen voters scurrying up saying "I'd no idea / completely forgotten it was today". If turned away because they have no ID will they come back again? Unlikely.

Similarly those who thought they had to bring their polling cards but had forgotten. Happens to supporters of all parties.

Driving licence / passport photos photos would be a poor way of identifying anyone at a polling station without electronic equipment.

And what about postal voting, now being so widely encouraged? Manifold occasions for fraud already.

Electronic voting facing a camera would be the way forward if anyone thinks the cost and voter deterrence worth it.

Thank you for replying Kircubbin2000.

MaizieD

Aepgirl

I have worked in polling stations for many years, and I think this idea is excellent. I know that on at least 3 occasions I have been 99% certain that somebody has presented at the polling station twice. When challenged, they just said words to the effect ‘you must be mistaken’.

3 occasions in 'many years'. What a terrible threat to democracy..

Are you saying that fraud doesn’t matter, then, if the cases are few?

Alegrias1

I'm just amazed how many people have fallen for this.

There has been post after post explaining why we don't need this and how it is voter suppression, and still we get told by some that its necessary and nothing to worry about.

I despair that the electorate is so easy to mislead.

Come on GNers buck up! ?You have been told why you shouldn’t want ID voting cards so why persist with your own opinions on the matter? Yes...that’s exactly what is being said to us by Alegrias and Maizie takes the insult one step further.
Sheesh! No wonder people don’t bother to debate points much.

MaizieD

Alegrias1

I'm just amazed how many people have fallen for this.

There has been post after post explaining why we don't need this and how it is voter suppression, and still we get told by some that its necessary and nothing to worry about.

I despair that the electorate is so easy to mislead.

Zombies!

Charming. Again those who disagree with the major players on here are labelled “zombies”.

kircubbin2000

I am in the UK, Belfast.

Daughter is in London.The white card you are sent is for information only, you do not need it at the poll as the clerk will have your name on her list.

Aepgirl

I have worked in polling stations for many years, and I think this idea is excellent. I know that on at least 3 occasions I have been 99% certain that somebody has presented at the polling station twice. When challenged, they just said words to the effect ‘you must be mistaken’.

3 occasions in 'many years'. What a terrible threat to democracy..

Alegrias1

I'm just amazed how many people have fallen for this.

There has been post after post explaining why we don't need this and how it is voter suppression, and still we get told by some that its necessary and nothing to worry about.

I despair that the electorate is so easy to mislead.

Zombies!

I am in the UK, Belfast.

I have worked in polling stations for many years, and I think this idea is excellent. I know that on at least 3 occasions I have been 99% certain that somebody has presented at the polling station twice. When challenged, they just said words to the effect ‘you must be mistaken’.

I'm just amazed how many people have fallen for this.

There has been post after post explaining why we don't need this and how it is voter suppression, and still we get told by some that its necessary and nothing to worry about.

I despair that the electorate is so easy to mislead.

I was born in 1950 and issued with an ID card - I still have it but don't suppose I can use it now!

Necessary now. Also worried about abuse of postal votes. We have a system that invites dishonesty.

There will always be people who just don't vote, its their choice, and as much as we have a right to vote, we also have a right to abstain.

But can we be sure that no one is voting on behalf of the no voters? This is very easily done if you live in a building with a shared letter box, I know, because I've lived with such an arrangement and had post stolen by another tenant. It does happen.

Photo ID would put a stop to this.

One thing is sure, I think. This will happen eventually. We will need proper identification to vote, - one day.
We carried ID cards in WW2. I clearly remember mine.
I can see no harm in it, nor a threat to democracy.

I can’t think there are many cases of fraud at polling stations. They cross off your name as you arrive, so if you had an extra vote for someone who’d died or was no longer living there, it’d mean going twice, or else getting someone else to impersonate them.
Not that I’m saying any sort of fraud should be ignored, but such presumably very small numbers wouldn’t normally make any appreciable difference to the outcome, would they?

I wouldn’t have any objection to photo ID, though I do realise it’d be a problem for some. Older people who don’t have a passport or driving licence could presumably use a bus pass - ours include photos - I don’t know whether that applies everywhere though.

I don’t have any objection to the idea of identity cards, but I wouldn’t want to be obliged to carry one at all times, as happens in some countries.
Presumably the main reason they haven’t been introduced already (except during WW2) is the huge cost.

TBH I’d think there’s a lot more potential for fraud with postal voting, as was demonstrated some years ago in (IIRC) Tower Hamlets.

grandtanteJE65

I honestly cannot see that a photo id is a threat to democracy.

Surely polling stations have always checked that those who present themselves are eligible to vote?

Whether they do so by asking for your name and address, your social security number or by seeing your passport or driving licence cannot make the slightest bit of difference.

Photo ID is a threat to democracy if it denies citizens their fundamental right to vote.

If people are happy with this it's very scaring.

There are people who will go into a voting booth twice and vote twice. There is voter fraud out there and having to have some id to vote will eliminate that

And your evidence for this is?

How many cases of fraudulent voting have been proven in the the last decade?

How many elections have been compromised by fraudulent voting?

Policy making on hearsay and gossip is ridiculous.

nanna8

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

Because there is a list which is ticked off when you register at the polling booth, even if you don't have the card sent by post. Because cards/voters lists are made up from records held by the local authority.

I honestly cannot see that a photo id is a threat to democracy.

Surely polling stations have always checked that those who present themselves are eligible to vote?

Whether they do so by asking for your name and address, your social security number or by seeing your passport or driving licence cannot make the slightest bit of difference.

I definitely think they are a good idea. Then only people entitled to vote can vote, and just one vote per person. In the 2016 election it was proven many students voted twice. Also many students had votes stolen. And postal votes need to be addressed.

I have always found it really unbelievable that one is not expected to prove who one is when voting. Quite frankly I would say that that in itself is UNDEMOCRATIC.

I would very much like to be sure that people have the right to vote and are doing it in person as far as possible. (There will always be provision for those who are unable to do so).

Surely taking steps to check that those who have the right to vote, and not others, are doing so is the most DEMOCRATIC thing one can do. And if you are going to suggest that some people wont bother to get photo ID, Algerias, then I would suggest that they don't deserve a vote.

I will cheer if and when the legislation is passed.

How will this affect postal voters? I'm a postal voter, much more convenient. I don't have to worry about being at home on voting day. I've missed out on voting in the past because of being out of my area. Or having photo ID!