Local election observers say 1.2% of voters turned away for lacking ID

Leaflet reminding voters to bring ID. The surveys were conducted in 879 polling stations. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock

More than 1% of voters, half of whom appeared to be from minority ethnic backgrounds, were turned away from polling stations because of ID requirements at the local elections, according to a group of democracy observers.

Democracy Volunteers, a group of election observers, said it conducted snapshot surveys in 118 councils on 4 May.