The UK Government has been accused of suppressing voters’ rights with the potential disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of people after plans to introduce compulsory photo ID for voters were leaked.
Ministers are planning to introduce a legal requirement for voters to produce photographic ID, in order to safeguard against electoral fraud. The proposals, reportedly contained in a new electoral integrity bill, will also limit the number of relatives for whom anyone can act as a proxy.
The Electoral Reform Society has claimed that out of millions of votes cast in the UK last year, there were just eight allegations of impersonation fraud – the type of fraud that voter ID is meant to prevent.
Commenting on the announcement Ben Lake, Member of Parliament for Ceredigion said:
"I am extremely concerned at the plans to make it harder to vote by requiring voters to show a form of photo ID in order to be able to exercise their democratic right to vote. These moves are intended to fix an issue which simply isn't a problem. In 2017, there was just one conviction for impersonation at the election.
“I fear that hundreds of thousands of individuals across the country could effectively be disenfranchised by these changes, and the impact will be felt disproportionately amidst the elderly and the most disadvantaged in our communities, who are less likely to have a passport or photo driving licence.
“Consequently, I shall not be supporting these proposals when they are brought forward by the Government.”