74 voters in the borough turned up without ID
THE number of voters turned away at polling stations due to not having their ID has been revealed. Across the city and county, 857 voters failed to take photographic ID with them to the polls.
Earlier this month, voters across Leicester and Leicestershire headed to their nearest polling station to decide who would be leading their council for the next four years.
But the 2023 local elections had new rules in force which required eligible voters to show identification before they could fill their ballot. There were concerns that the new requirement would prevent some people from voting as they might not have valid ID or might not be bothered to return to a polling station if they forgot to take it.
Of the 857 voters turned away in the city and county on Thursday, May 5, the majority did actually return later in the day to cast their votes. Across Leicester and Leicestershire, 500 people headed back to their polling station with the correct ID. This means 357 people who wanted to vote missed out on the opportunity to elect their councillors.
The Government said the new setup aimed to crackdown on voter fraud. Photo ID including passports, driving licences, Blue Badges, some concessionary travel cards and certain national identity cards were all accepted. Voters without a valid form of ID could also apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate or a postal vote for which ID was not needed.
Leicester had the highest number of voters turned away from polling stations at 400. Of these, 167 people did not return to cast their vote and 233 did. Excluding postal votes, some 69,343 people voted in the city in total.
Miranda Cannon, returning officer for the City of Leicester, said: “The vast majority of voters in Leicester appeared to be aware of the new requirements and arrived with acceptable ID. However, even though only a very small percentage of those attending polling stations on the day were unable to vote, this is still a concern. We want everyone who is entitled to be able to use their
We will continue to work hard to communicate about Voter ID in preparation for the forthcoming Police and Crime Commissioner election
vote.
“We will continue to work hard to communicate about Voter ID in preparation for the forthcoming Police and Crime Commissioner election and general election.”
In the county, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council had 14,826 people cast their votes at a polling station. Some 133 people initially weren’t issued with a ballot paper, and of those 102 did return with accepted ID, the council said. This means 31 people did not get to cast their votes in the borough.
In Hinckley and Bosworth Borough, 74 people initially failed to present the necessary ID. Of these, 33 returned to vote and 41 did not.
Polling station turnout in the borough was 16,902 people.
A spokesperson for Charnwood Borough Council said: “In Charnwood, 69 electors who arrived to vote at a polling station were initially not given a ballot paper because they did not meet the new voter ID requirements, but of those, 29 subsequently returned with acceptable ID and were then able to vote.
“That means in total 40 people were not issued with a ballot paper at a polling station because they did not meet the voter ID requirements. This represents 0.03% of the total electorate.”
In Harborough district, 68 people were initially turned away. However, 36 returned, meaning 32 of those who tried to vote did not manage to that day. Turnout at polling stations
was 58,777 people.
North West Leicestershire District had 66 people turned away because they did not bring ID. Some 41 returned and cast their votes, leaving 25 people who did not. Turnout was 15,492 in polling stations.
In Blaby District, 29 people did not have the correct ID but of those 15 returned. This means 14 people who wanted to did not manage to vote. Some 14,181 voters attended polling stations.
Melton Borough had the fewest voters who were turned away at 18. Some 11 then went back to cast their vote, meaning just seven were unable to do so. There were 12,938 who voted in the borough.
Photo ID will also be needed for the Police and Crime Commissioner and General Elections next year.