KATY Loudon has urged people to register for a postal vote ahead of the upcoming by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
The SNP’s candidate in the upcoming Rutherglen and Hamilton West said it would “ensure the Westminster government doesn't achieve its goal of blocking Scottish votes and undermining our democracy”.
The by-election on September 20 will be the first time in Scotland when Westminster's new voter ID laws apply.
The call from Loudon comes after an Electoral Commission report, published in June, found that at least 14,000 people who tried to vote in the local elections in England were denied a ballot paper because of the ID requirement.
It also found a further 4% of non-voters said they didn't attempt to vote at all because of the voter ID requirement, while a separate report found it led to racial and disability discrimination.
Commenting, Loudon said: “I am urging every single voter in Rutherglen and Hamilton West to check if they hold an accepted form of voter ID today, and if they do not, register for a postal vote by Wednesday 20th September or a Voter Authority Certificate by the 27th September.
"You can check what forms of ID are accepted on South Lanarkshire's Council website or by phoning them on 0303 123 1015.
“Let’s come together to ensure the Westminster government doesn't achieve its goal of blocking Scottish votes and undermining our democracy. Even Jacob-Rees Mogg acknowledged that the new voter ID laws are an attempt at gerrymandering.
“If you register for a postal vote, you don’t need to worry about having voter ID as it is not required to vote by post. With a postal vote, you can either send it away as soon as possible or hand it in to your local polling station on the day of the election.
“The SNP opposes the Trumpian Voter ID policy and the Scottish Government has confirmed it will not apply to Holyrood and local council elections.
"But this is another example of why Scotland needs independence. A vote for the SNP on 5th October in Rutherglen and Hamilton West is a vote for a fairer, more equal Scotland - where you can vote from the age of 16 and where no-one is locked out of voting."
