CRIME

Voter ID law 'poisoned cure,' say MPs

The voter ID rule that was brought in an attempt to tackle electoral fraud in the 2023 local elections ‘disenfranchises more voters than it protects,’ MPs have said.

The voter ID rule that was brought in an attempt to tackle electoral fraud in the 2023 local elections ‘disenfranchises more voters than it protects,' MPs have said.

A report into the controversial law by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on democracy and the constitution described it as a ‘poisoned cure' that prevented at least 14,000 people from voting in the elections.

The report said that the selection of documents that were accepted as qualifying ID was ‘arbitrary,' and it found evidence of racial and disability discrimination at polling stations.

It recommended that the law remained in place but that reforms, such as broadening the range of valid ID, should be introduced.

John Nicolson, who chaired the inquiry, said: ‘Voters must be able to exercise their democratic rights by casting their ballot and they must have the security of knowing that no one is going to undermine that right by voting in their name.

The voter ID system, as it stands, doesn't get the balance right.

'You don't solve anything by disenfranchising voters.'

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to have their say in our democracy as we implement the Electoral Commission's recommendation of introducing identification for voting in person across Great Britain, in line with the longstanding arrangements in Northern Ireland.

‘The Government has always been confident in the ability of local authorities to implement the voter identification changes while continuing to deliver our elections robustly and securely, as they always do.'

CRIME

Devo Bill to reintroduce supplementary vote in blow to Reform

By Dan Peters | 10 July 2025

The supplementary vote system will be reintroduced to elect mayors in a move that is expected to reduce the chances of success for Reform UK.

CRIME

Under pressure: The strain of snap elections

By Peter Stanyon | 09 July 2025

Peter Stanyon says election teams must have the legislation, systems and funding in place if they are to keep on delivering the safe, secure and accurate Gen...

CRIME

Citizen engagement: a new paradigm for local government

By Jason Lowther | 01 July 2025

Citizen engagement is sometimes treated as something at the margins of decision-making, but a new INLOGOV report launched today at the LGA Conference argues ...

CRIME

Can reorganisation deliver its promises?

By Jason Lowther | 12 June 2025

As the latest round of reorganisation gets under way, Jason Lowther looks at what international research has to say about whether larger councils actually le...

Popular articles by William Eichler