ID documents will be needed to vote

LAWS to require voters to show identification documents at elections were included in the Queen’s Speech.

Currently, voters simply give their name at a polling station and get a ballot paper once it has been checked.

The new rules would require voters to have a passport or a driving licence. They could also apply for a free ‘local electoral identity document’ from the council.

The proposal is designed to combat ‘personation’ fraud where individuals pretend to be someone else to vote.

Ministers are also set to tighten the rules on postal votes. Campaigners will be banned from handling them and a new power will limit the number of postal votes an individual can hand in.

Voters in Northern Ireland already have to show proof of ID before they can vote.

But critics say having to present an identity document could be a barrier to democracy and disenfranchise thousands of voters. The proposal forms part of the PM’s constitutional reform agenda which

is designed to ‘safeguard’ our ‘constitution and democratic processes’.

Official documents explaining the legislative programme state: ‘We will protect the integrity of our democracy and elections, tackling electoral fraud through the introduction of voter ID and banning postal vote harvesting.

A trial of voter identification this year was declared a success by the Cabinet Office. Around 800 people were turned away when the system was trialled during local and EU elections in ten areas.

But Jess Garland, director of policy at the Electoral Reform Society said: ‘Make no mistake – these plans will leave tens of thousands of legitimate voters voiceless. Ministers should focus on combating the real threats to our democracy, rather than suppressing voters’ rights. The Government has no examples to justify this “show your papers” policy. There is simply no evidence of widespread impersonation.’