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A report by a parliamentary All Party Group, or APPG, (this is not an official parliamentary group in the same way that a Select Committee is; it's a special interest cross party group) has found that there was both racial and disability discrimination implicated in voters being refused a ballot paper under the new voter ID legislation.
The Electoral Commission has already found that at least 14,000 voters were turned away at polling stations (these being the ones refused a ballot paper by the poll clerks; it doesn't account for those turned away before they entered to polling station)
While a report co-author concludes that the rules need revising I am (as you might expect) more inclined to think that they should be done away with altogether. Disenfranchisement is a very serious harm to the individual and to democracy.
The report, which has been seen by the Guardian, says: “The current voter-ID system is, as it stands, a ‘poisoned cure’ in that it disenfranchises more electors than it protects.”
The authors found that “polling clerks are more likely to fail to compare a photo ID to the person presenting that document if the person is of a different ethnicity”.
They also highlighted the case of Andrea Barratt, who is immunocompromised and was blocked from entering a polling booth after refusing to remove her mask for an identification check.
The report says: “Their decision in that instance was … clearly discriminatory (and potentially unlawful) because they denied Andrea Barratt the right to cast a ballot purely on the basis of circumstances which arose as a direct result of a disability.”
www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/11/voter-id-in-england-led-to-racial-and-disability-discrimination-report-finds
Or rather, a particular race isn't defined by the wearing of a burka
The wearing of a burka doesn't define race
GrannyGravy13
25Avalon
I know someone (middle aged, white, female) who was unable to vote at our local elections as she doesn’t have a passport or photo driving licence.
As it was publicised in the press, on TV, on radio and even on the polling card that if you didn’t have approved photographic ID then you could apply to your local council for a free voter ID certificate I find this extremely surprising.
I was just trying to point out that it wasn’t just black people who didn’t get to vote. The current system is flawed. I didn’t see it publicised anywhere and didn’t know you could apply for a free voter ID certificate. Next time I meet this person I will ask her why she didn’t. Maybe it was too much faff or she wasn’t interested or a mix of both idk.
Maisie, this is what you do, you don’t give reasons or answers to questions, so you throw the racist card in, you and only you mentioned the Burkha as an example of discrimination not me or anyone else, so were you being racist?, I just replied to you. You haven’t a credible answer so is that why you derailed it?
GrannyGravy13
25Avalon
I know someone (middle aged, white, female) who was unable to vote at our local elections as she doesn’t have a passport or photo driving licence.
As it was publicised in the press, on TV, on radio and even on the polling card that if you didn’t have approved photographic ID then you could apply to your local council for a free voter ID certificate I find this extremely surprising.
Yes there is always an excuse for not doing something. Always someone else's fault.
25Avalon
I know someone (middle aged, white, female) who was unable to vote at our local elections as she doesn’t have a passport or photo driving licence.
As it was publicised in the press, on TV, on radio and even on the polling card that if you didn’t have approved photographic ID then you could apply to your local council for a free voter ID certificate I find this extremely surprising.
I know someone (middle aged, white, female) who was unable to vote at our local elections as she doesn’t have a passport or photo driving licence.
As someone disabled, I don't really "get" the disability problem.
We always voted, despite disability, and provided ID (we were a pilot area), but when Covid arrived, we were offered postal votes.
All easy to prove, no problems, and no issues.
I, seriously, do not understand that arguments. Voter ID works in most forward looking countries - because it's sensible.
There are bigger issues to worry about, in my view. 🙂
Whitewavemark2
Yes I have some relatives’ but after the war they were no longer considered necessary.
TBH I really see no need for them, but given the stupid Tories are intent on gerrymandering, the least the rest of us can do is insist that they issue IDs to everyone.
Yes
Equality for all.
Callistemon21
^Bottom line is the poorer you are the less likely you are to have easy access to the required ID and if you are old, ill and poor, then it's even less likely, if you are young and poor you are less likely to have a driving licence at 18, have a permanent address or have a passport^
ID cards.
Yes.
Whitewavemark2
Yes ID at birth. Everyone should be issued with an ID.
Yes, even better.
Yes I have some relatives’ but after the war they were no longer considered necessary.
TBH I really see no need for them, but given the stupid Tories are intent on gerrymandering, the least the rest of us can do is insist that they issue IDs to everyone.
Whitewavemark2
Yes ID at birth. Everyone should be issued with an ID.
As it stands whether or not the requirement to have ID of some sort was an attempt at voter suppression, it will always be open to this interpretation until everyone is issued with an ID.
Weren’t we all issued with ID cards during and just after the war including children at birth?
Whitewavemark2
Yes ID at birth. Everyone should be issued with an ID.
As it stands whether or not the requirement to have ID of some sort was an attempt at voter suppression, it will always be open to this interpretation until everyone is issued with an ID.
A big, fat yes to this.
Callistemon21
^Bottom line is the poorer you are the less likely you are to have easy access to the required ID and if you are old, ill and poor, then it's even less likely, if you are young and poor you are less likely to have a driving licence at 18, have a permanent address or have a passport^
ID cards.
👍
Bottom line is the poorer you are the less likely you are to have easy access to the required ID and if you are old, ill and poor, then it's even less likely, if you are young and poor you are less likely to have a driving licence at 18, have a permanent address or have a passport
ID cards.
Of course it was an attempt at gerrymandering, at least Rees Mogg had the honesty to admit it. Of course it's easy for posters on here to show the necessary ID or obtain it, of course many of us have postal votes but and for me this is the important thing, we are not typical of those people who are likely to be discriminated against. Many states in the US brought in additional requirements for voting prior to the election in 2020, they were all governed by Republicans. Bottom line is the poorer you are the less likely you are to have easy access to the required ID and if you are old, ill and poor, then it's even less likely, if you are young and poor you are less likely to have a driving licence at 18, have a permanent address or have a passport. If you then add in belonging to a non white community and there is yet another potential hurdle.
Yes ID at birth. Everyone should be issued with an ID.
As it stands whether or not the requirement to have ID of some sort was an attempt at voter suppression, it will always be open to this interpretation until everyone is issued with an ID.
As so often on here, I remain completely baffled by how many people don’t undetstand barriers to participation, and why, despite having nothing to hide, some people have good reasons to prefer not, are afraid, lack the language or literacy (and that includes born and bred British people), to engage with officialdom.
Also even if you agree with ID for elections, surely you believe it’s important - vital - to have a system that does not disenfranchise anyone? And if so, since it’s clear that the current system does not do this, you have concrete proposals for how it can be appropriately and effectively ended?
Everybody, including ethnic minorities, those with disabilities
And those on low incomes have plenty of time before the next general election to make sure they have ID or to ask for a postal vote.
MaizieD
I would have answered you, Allsorts but when your post turned racist it didn't really seem worth the effort.
The post by Allsorts didn’t ‘turn racist’ you just couldn’t or wouldn’t answer it.
Since you had introduced the burkha scenario a while back, asking how a woman would be treated/ turned away at a polling station, it was a relevant question by Allsorts.
You seem peeved that so many posters don’t agree with you on this voter ID question.
Vegansrock seems spot on to me.
Today, a new report from the Electoral Commission has found that voter ID rules will impact people with lower incomes, with disabilities and from minority ethnic backgrounds. But the Government has responded to say its reforms are ‘very encouraging’ and that most people “adapted well to the rollout”.
While 4% of people who did not vote in May’s local elections said it was because of voter ID, the regulator said that the requirement is “likely to have a larger impact” at the next General Election, which could see hundreds of thousands turned away from polling stations.
“This is the second report in a week that has exposed deep problems with the Government’s voter ID rules. On Monday, a cross-party group of MPs called the policy a “poisoned cure” that “disenfranchises more electors than it protects”, “creates a real risk of injustice and potential discrimination” and “lacks the flexibility necessary to avoid injustices”.
Good Law Project
I think the issue would be entirely solved if everyone was issued with an ID.
Totally agree vegansrock
Exactly vegansrock
I’m not sure why it is a loss of “rights” or “ freedom” to have to show ID to vote. Perhaps the OP could let us know of any other countries that just allow people to rock up and say who they are with no checks. Is it a loss of rights to have a photo on a driving licence or bus pass? Seems like a fuss over nothing. Having ID has led to the capture of criminals in many countries. One of the problems we have with illegal migration is no ID , so easy for people to work under the radar.
I would have answered you, Allsorts but when your post turned racist it didn't really seem worth the effort.
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