What do you think to voter ID laws?
 

I'm in the "sure, why not" camp, though I don't particularly care either way.

not in the UK anyway - fraud is more of an issue in the USA, where it absolutely should be implemented.

You mean having to produce photo ID at the Polling stations?

I think they do them at random here, I've never been asked for ID but I have seen people being asked. Not really bothered about it tbh

Yeah, apparently it's in the Queen's Speech that it will be required for all voters.

Oh Ok, not sure voting fraud is an issue here either

The problem is that not everyone has photo ID so, unless you implement mandatory citizen ID cards (which I am not in favour of) you're making it harder to vote for a section of society... And of course, it's certain demographics (the least well off, those who have just reached adulthood, and the elderly) who are least likely to have valid photo ID, skewing the vote.

And even people with ID, imagine not being able to vote because you've misplaced your passport? Or you dropped your wallet with your driving license on the way to the polling station? It's really not ideal.

You can get a (UK) photo ID card called a Citizencard here - https://www.citizencard.com/requirem...rst-uk-id-card

If this is true, it's a move designed to skew the vote towards the conservatives, because they know that Labour voters are less likely to have a driving license or passport.

I can only hope it won't be photo ID and they'll accept alternative ID like bank cards and birth certificates. Otherwise it's just another kick to the dying horse of democracy.

Don't you need one of these to claim benefits though?

It's vote rigging no question.

It didn't make it into the speech :laugh:

I'd be against.
Unless any government provided an identification card to all, free of any charge.

No, any government stuff can be done with National Insurance number which everyone over 16 born in the UK has.

It's a proposal that I think would be very unlikely to make it through parliament so honestly it would be odd if they announced the idea.

Labour's mandatory citizen ID card idea was HUGELY unpopular and I can only imagine this wouldn't be much different?

Voter fraud is mostly a boogeyman touted by the Republicans to try and limit who can vote since a wider voting public will always count against Republicans. It's why Moscow Mitch has voted down precautions against Russian Interference and why Republicans are so often involved in gerrymandering. They won't often win if they don't interfere with who can vote.

I definitely don't think we need them here. I can't remember a single incident of voter fraud being a major issue in UK votes, maybe I'm drawing a blank but I don't think I am.

It's a way to limit the amount of people who can vote clearly, many people wont have a photo ID on hand and will miss this news.

A rainy day alters the vote more than any ID card would do.

People eligibility to vote comes from the voter card here at the moment although proof of address will also work. The voting register is also updated annually, which is a more up to date method than any id card would be, unless it was also issued annually :shrug:

I think it's ridiculous and its just another thing to cause problems, it's bad enough you need ID & documents for other things but to vote is silly :bored: .

There's never been a problem with just producing your vote card ,you're on the register it should be enough. Voting fraud is a weak excuse :facepalm: .

They must make all old and any on benefits
to get a Free ID Card

That would be better, Kizzy


https://www.citizencard.com/images/s...r-over-18s.jpg

Why's that then... What's being old and on benefits got to do with voter fraud?

I am saying they must make it Free for the Old
and all on benefits
then its more fair to have ID cards

You have to register to vote to be sent a poll card with your specific voter ID number on.. What's wrong with that system?

I disagree.

They should be free to all if any government was to introduce them.
Free to all.
In fact a right for all.

Yes Kizzy that's Normal.

The clear issue with that system is that it is open to abuse if the poll card ends up in the hands of someone wishing to commit fraud. Also, saying that only a handful of fraud issues were identified doesn't mean that there weren't more. It could mean that the fraud was not discovered due to lack of ID

I dont really have a problem with showing ID .... you have already registered so it isn't a privacy issue. At the moment, you don't need to show your polling card to vote, you can do so by showing ID, so basically all that is being said is that ID is more secure than polling card, and in that, I tend to agree

The problem is the photo ID Kizzy.

When I canvass and talk to people, especially the elderly.
They don't have passports or driving licences.

Many have bus passes, which isn't acceptable.
Why not is a mystery to me on that one.

Where does this end too.
Re postal votes.
You don't have to send photo ID for that.

How does anyone know the postal vote is filled in by the designated person.
A signature can easily be got close to being forged.

Unless any photo ID is provided free to all.
No way would I support any introduction of them.

Otherwise this move smells of cynical and almost discriminatory intent against those who have no photo ID.
Then being told they then CANNOT exercise their Democratic right to vote.

It's a disgrace any government would even dictate this.
Make it free for all and that Councils ensure everyone has it too.
Otherwise, I hope this is never allowed to come into action.