14% say they haven’t a clue about compulsory ID to vote for mayor
ONE in seven Londoners are unaware of new rules requiring voters to show photo ID for the mayoral election on May 2, according to a new poll.
The survey of 1,050 Londoners, conducted by Focaldata and commissioned by the campaign group HOPE Not Hate, reinforced that Sadiq Khan has a commanding lead over his Conservative rival Susan Hall as he bids for a third term. The Labour Mayor is on 45 per cent compared to 21 per cent for Ms LAURENCE FOX, the former actor and right-wing political activist, has been barred from taking part in the London mayoral elections after submitting invalid nomination papers.
London Elects, the impartial firm that oversees the City Hall elections, said his application to stand in the May 2 election was “not valid”. Mr Fox plans to appeal and claimed he had been deliberately blocked from standing.
Hall. Rob Blackie of the Liberal Democrats has 11 per cent, with the Green and Reform UK candidates trailing in single digits. The confirmed line-up of candidates was due to be announced today.
But the poll exposed potential pitfalls for the mayoral and London Assembly elections, with 14 per cent saying they did not know about the Government’s new requirement to show photo ID.
For people lacking a passport, driving licence or other valid ID such as a Freedom Pass or Oyster 60+ card. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is April 24.
In the poll, 12 per cent of Londoners said they were less likely to vote because of the new rules, rising to 22 per cent of 18-24-year-olds and 20 per cent of Muslims.
Some 24 per cent of Londoners said that if they got to their polling station and had forgotten their photo ID, they would “forget about it and get on with [their] day”. The figure jumps to 37 per cent among 18-24-year-olds.
HOPE Not Hate chief executive Nick Lowles said: “We’re worried that with these new laws, we will continue to see people more and more disengaged and disenfranchised from politics.”
Ms Hall has made the ultra low emission zone a central issue in her campaign. But only 13 per cent in the poll chose Mr Khan’s decision to expand Ulez to cover all of London as their most important issue, well behind the cost of living, affordable housing and crime.