Voter ID

What is difficult for those of us interested in politics is understanding that the vast majority of folk haven’t got the remotest interest in politics, but they do vote, largely it must be admitted by . These are the folk who will almost certainly suffer the biggest level of disenfranchisement as they will not be aware if the need for ID etc.

It was estimated that over 2million people needed to apply for an ID of some sort. Only approx. 8% did so.

I suspect a great many people don’t watch or listen to the news or read newspapers. Any publicity material received through the post is just binned, unread. Then they moan about not being told they need ID. It would be interesting to know the demographic involved.

Just listening to the news about people unable to vote because they had no ID. The public were warned well in advance they needed to apply for it. If they left it too late and they didn't get it on time it's their own fault.

Germanshepherdsmum

I suspect a great many people don’t watch or listen to the news or read newspapers. Any publicity material received through the post is just binned, unread. Then they moan about not being told they need ID. It would be interesting to know the demographic involved.

It was clearly pointed out on the polling cards, which arrived in plenty of time to apply for an ID Certificate if needed.

You know, not everyone reads their polling card.

Now address why young people couldn't use a travel card. Tell me what massive amounts of terrible cheating would have gone on if they had been able to.

In light of the fact, of course, that cases of proven voter fraud under our traditional system have been utterly negligible... single figures.

Funny how we all managed to be perfectly orderly and law abiding without ID...

There is no excuse.

The low turnout is more of a worry to me. Why do people just not bother to vote?

The reason that the Government introduced voter ID is precisely because they knew that a good number of people wouldn't have it, and they were making the assumption that the people without ID would be less likely to vote Tory.
It was no oversight, it was deliberate.

I agree, Blossoming, it is a worry. It's actually embarrassing for our country that so many of us can't be bothered to vote.

On the BBC website a 32 year old bloke is complaining that he couldn’t vote, because he’d forgotten to take his passport with him.

I don’t suppose I’m the only one who can’t summon any sympathy. There’s been enough publicity about needing ID, FGS.

MaizieD

You know, not everyone reads their polling card.

Now address why young people couldn't use a travel card. Tell me what massive amounts of terrible cheating would have gone on if they had been able to.

In light of the fact, of course, that cases of proven voter fraud under our traditional system have been utterly negligible... single figures.

Funny how we all managed to be perfectly orderly and law abiding without ID...

On a MN thread, at least one poster who has actually been a polling station official, has said that they’ve seen quite a bit of would-be fraud - people trying to vote for other family members, etc.

Personally I think it’s high time we all had ID cards.

On a MN thread, at least one poster who has actually been a polling station official, has said that they’ve seen quite a bit of would-be fraud - people trying to vote for other family

Who says we have always been orderly and law-abiding?
Personally , if I have nothing to hide, I have no problem with ID - in the same way young people should show proof of age in pubs etc
And anybody who has not yet taken on board that photo ID was necessary clearly wasn’t paying that much attention to the election or election issues.

Nurses have turned up to vote after long shifts with their NHS photo ID, in uniform, and turned away. Young people have been turned away as their Young People's travel card where not accepted. Apparently this has happened outside Polling station, so these will not be officiall registered in figures.

I was a poll clerk at a little village hall yesterday.

The vast majority of voters were 40+ years old, I would imagine.

Voter I/D was absolutely no problem. Every single person produced driving licence, passport, bus pass, without prompting. No one had the Voter Certificate form, they all had other items,

Just one chap asked for it to be noted that he didn’t agree with having to, he wasn’t difficult or nasty, and realised it was a government ruling, but wanted his view recording.

I know if it were a General Election, there would be more younger voters who might not have the usual I/D forms, but then they just need to sort out a Voter Certificate beforehand.

If they are keen to vote, then it’s their responsibility to be prepared.

Calendargirl

I was a poll clerk at a little village hall yesterday.

The vast majority of voters were 40+ years old, I would imagine.

Voter I/D was absolutely no problem. Every single person produced driving licence, passport, bus pass, without prompting. No one had the Voter Certificate form, they all had other items,

Just one chap asked for it to be noted that he didn’t agree with having to, he wasn’t difficult or nasty, and realised it was a government ruling, but wanted his view recording.

I know if it were a General Election, there would be more younger voters who might not have the usual I/D forms, but then they just need to sort out a Voter Certificate beforehand.

If they are keen to vote, then it’s their responsibility to be prepared.

Totally agree

About two thirds of eligible voters do not vote in local elections; about one third in general elections - possibly the 92% not taking up the opportunity of getting the free I.D. card had something to do with this? Also, why do the left assume that their potential supporters are either too ill-informed (or stupid) to be aware of the changes. This is the kind of attitude that cost Labour so dearly in the 'Red-wall' seats over recent times.

Fleurpepper

Nurses have turned up to vote after long shifts with their NHS photo ID, in uniform, and turned away. Young people have been turned away as their Young People's travel card where not accepted. Apparently this has happened outside Polling station, so these will not be officiall registered in figures.

Can you provide evidence for these instances?
A nurse, if driving, would have their licence on them. It was common knowledge that YP travel cards were insufficient (I am not arguing why or why not- just the FACT)
No, there is no excuse, photo ID was a legal requirement
End of.

Best scrap the results for this election and organise a re run. It was only a rehearsal after all to see if voters understood id cards.

Calendargirl gives us first-hand evidence as a poll clerk at her local polling station.
Are you back in the UK at the moment then,Fleurpepper
Did this happen at your local polling station.
There will always be anecdotal “evidence”.

dayvidg

About two thirds of eligible voters do not vote in local elections; about one third in general elections - possibly the 92% not taking up the opportunity of getting the free I.D. card had something to do with this? Also, why do the left assume that their potential supporters are either too ill-informed (or stupid) to be aware of the changes. This is the kind of attitude that cost Labour so dearly in the 'Red-wall' seats over recent times.

Spot on!

I like a fact or two.

‘How many people were turned away over voter ID?

People working inside polling stations had a legal duty to record how many people they refused to give a ballot paper to and why.

Anyone who left after being told by the greeters outside some polling stations that they needed ID will not have been counted.

Some returning officers have already announced how many people were turned away and how many came back. They are not necessarily announcing the reasons why they were turned away.

The returning officer in Lincoln said that 57 people were turned away for not having the correct ID, but 25 later returned with some.

The Electoral Commission, an independent body that oversees elections, is collating all this information. An initial report, to be published in the coming weeks, will include the proportion of people turned away from polling stations’

From BBC News.

Blossoming

The low turnout is more of a worry to me. Why do people just not bother to vote?

And that makes it all the more surprising that people did turn up without i.d. . People who vote in local elections have some interest in politics presumably.

Foxygloves

Fleurpepper

Nurses have turned up to vote after long shifts with their NHS photo ID, in uniform, and turned away. Young people have been turned away as their Young People's travel card where not accepted. Apparently this has happened outside Polling station, so these will not be officiall registered in figures.

Can you provide evidence for these instances?
A nurse, if driving, would have their licence on them. It was common knowledge that YP travel cards were insufficient (I am not arguing why or why not- just the FACT)
No, there is no excuse, photo ID was a legal requirement
End of.

Reported on several sites. 'A nurse, if driving ...'

what nonsense, are you saying all nurses drive and have d driving licence?