The Electoral Commission has said that Thursday’s local elections were “well run” despite some voters being turned away under the newly implemented voter ID rules.
Under the Elections Bill passed in April 2022, those turning up at polling stations are now required to show a valid photo ID before being given a voting slip.
An Electoral Commission spokesman said on Wednesday evening: “These were the first set of polls to take place since the voter ID requirement came into force.
“Our initial assessment is that overall, the elections were well run. Across the country, votes were cast throughout the day and in line with the law.
“This is in large part thanks to the dedication of electoral administrators, who have worked hard to prepare for today and for the implementation of this new measure.”
But the spokesman acknowledged that some people were unable to vote as a result of the new photo ID requirement.
Impact Analysis
The commission said it has started work to understand the impact of the new requirement.“It will be essential to understand the extent of this impact, and the reasons behind it, before a final view can be taken on how the policy has worked in practice and what can be learned for future elections,” said the spokesman.
He added: “We are collecting data from polling stations about the numbers turned away and returning, and carrying out national public opinion research to collect data about voters’ experiences.
“Given the fundamental role played by electoral administrators, it will also be vital that we hear from them about their experiences of the day, as well as other participants in the elections, including candidates.”
The commission expects to publish its initial analysis of the implementation of voter ID in June, subject to data being available.
Meanwhile, the Association of Electoral Administrators said voters who feel they have been wrongly refused a ballot paper should contact their local elections office.
Chief Executive Peter Stanyon said: “The initial picture is that polling day has run as smoothly as usual, without any major issues. This is testament to months of planning and hard work from returning officers and electoral administrators.
Election Integrity
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the photo ID requirement will help make sure voting is a “high-integrity process.”Downing Street said the rules are aimed at preventing potential voter impersonation, rather than dealing with any widespread existing issue of voter fraud.
Voter ID is not entirely a novelty for the UK, as it has been a requirement in Northern Ireland—a British province—for nearly 40 years.
Voter ID requirements were introduced in Northern Ireland after the 1983 general elections following concerns about the extent of voter fraud in the British province. Since 2003 photographic ID has been required.
According to a briefing paper for the House of Commons, “There has been no evidence that the ID requirements in Northern Ireland have affected turnout.”
Opposition
Much like in the USA, the issue has become a hot topic in the UK, with Labour calling the new ID requirement a discriminatory policy that will “disenfranchise millions of voters.”The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party also oppose the rule change.
Tom Brake, a former Lib Dem MP who currently leads the campaign group Unlock Democracy, called Thursday a “dark day for British democracy.”
“Reports from all over the country confirm our very worst fears of the impact of the disastrous policy which has been made worse by the shambolic way it has been introduced,” he said.
“One voter turned away is one too many, but early estimates point to many thousands of people being turned away and denied their right to vote. Too many people were unaware that they needed photo ID or weren’t clear on exactly what type of ID was required.”
He said the policy should be paused until an independent inquiry has examined its impact.
But Chris Heaton-Harris, the UK government’s secretary of state for Northern Ireland, defended the voter ID requirements.
He said similar measures had been in place in Northern Ireland for 20 years and told Sky News, “It’s a thoroughly good thing, it means that you can be completely sure that your elections are well tested and safe.”
