4,000 hit by ID chaos at polling stations

THOUSANDS of would-be voters were turned away from polling stations for not having the necessary documents in the five boroughs which tested voter ID schemes.

The tally, carried out by the Democracy Volunteers group, estimated 3,981 people were denied a ballot paper.

This represents 1.67 per cent of the total number of votes cast in the five boroughs.

Critics had warned that the trial was targeting the tiny problem of voter impersonation at polling booths, and risked putting off more vulnerable voters who might not hold the necessary documents, such as the elderly.

The five trial areas were Bromley, Swindon, Woking, Watford and Gosport.

Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said: ‘Britain prides itself on being a leading democracy – but it is a dark day for politics when thousands of blameless people turn out to vote only to be refused.’ Meanwhile, in Newcastle, a 96-year-old failed in her attempt to become the country’s oldest councillor.

Former headmistress Florence Kirkby stood for the Tories in the newly-created Manor Park ward.

In her campaign she promised to stand up for teachers and the elderly. But she lost the seat to the Liberal Democrat candidate, and the Conservatives still have no seats on the council.