Come Back Mrs Pankhurst!

 

Apologies to overseas readers- this post is for those of us who live in Britain.

Just a quick question - are you entitled to vote in public elections? Are you sure? ...

The Government has introduced a law which says that when you go to the Polling Station now, for local or general elections, you must have voter ID with you or you will not be allowed to place your vote.

The Government claims this is to prevent electoral fraud. 

Between 2010 and 2018 there were only two convictions for fraud. At the 2019 elections there were only 33 allegations of fraud - not all convicted. Our electoral system is one of the safest around. The Electoral Reform Society has calculated that this law will cost around £180,000,000 per decade - and says the Government is using [a very expensive] sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Just over 4% of voters do not have photo idea [around 2.1 million people] Since January, these people have been able to apply for a free voter authority certificate. But fewer than 21,000 have applied - I suspect the rest are not even aware of the issue.[Details here] 

What counts as acceptable ID? A current [photo] driving licence, passport or OAP bus card does.I'm OK then, I have two of those items.

But you cannot use a student ID card or young person's travel card.

Or a photo ID card where the photo does not accurately  reflect your appearance

It is hard not to feel that this Tory Government is deliberately disenfranchising groups who are less likely to vote Conservative. There is genuine anger in certain quarters that the right to vote will be denied many people.

Charities have warned that particular groups are more likely to be disenfranchised: just 53% of black Britons hold a driving licence, compared with 76% of white Britons, and Mencap has highlighted that people with a learning disability are less likely to have a passport. The RNIB, Royal National Institute of Blind People, noted the lack of driving licences amongst blind and partially sighted people and Stonewall say that trans and non-binary people may have been particularly vulnerable as the photo on their official ID may not reflect their gender identity. Civil rights group Liberty has also highlighted that younger people – less likely to vote Conservative – are much less likely to have a valid form of photo ID. This is particularly true given that the government has allowed more forms of photo ID that are relevant for older groups than for young people – for example, concessionary transport passes will be accepted, but not youth travel photocards or University IDs.

I can think of someone I know who is in her early 60s on a limited income. She does not drive or have a passport- and is too young for her OAP pass.

My elderly neighbour has no passport, her driving licence has expired, and limited mobility means she never uses a bus.

And another who is a student, who does not yet drive [many living in London rely on travelcards and have no need of cars] and cannot afford to go abroad so has no passport.

Were you aware of this change in the law? Will it affect you, or somebody you know?

How will you feel if you arrive at the next election and realise you are not able to cast your vote? Or if you actually do get round to applying for the certificate, and there is a backlog of requests, so you don't get your proof of ID in time for Polling Day?

Bob gave me a set of suffragette pin badges a few years back. I shall be wearing them quite a lot over coming weeks!