Tomorrow is the last day to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to enable those without photo ID to vote in next month's local authority elections.
Just 71,576 people have applied for the Government's new card, figures suggest, with time running out for those who want to vote on May 4 but don't have a passport, driving licence or other form of ID required under new voting regulations.
Young people have been among the slowest to sign up, amid accusations of discrimination against young people by disallowing travel cards and student ID, while allowing pensioners’ to use discount travel cards as identification. Overall the total figure represents just 4% of the number who were expected to apply for the card, with the final deadline for applications for the certificate at 5pm tomorrow, April 25th.
Read more: Photo ID, face coverings and proxy ballots: Voting guidance for upcoming local elections
Approximately two million people in the UK do not possess a passport, driving licence, or other form of photo identification required under the new voting regulations, which is why the Government introduced a new Voter Authority Certificate, which is free and requires a photo and National Insurance number to cover those without ID.
However as Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle and North and South Tyneside Councils get ready for local elections, there are growing concerns that the new Voter-ID and Postal Vote regulations could disenfranchise many people, especially the young and elderly.
According to Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, the fact that the application process for the Voter Authority Certificate is mainly online could pose a problem for many elderly people who lack access to the internet. And while it was possible to apply by post, the application forms had to be downloaded and printed, which again could be a significant hurdle for those who do not have access to the internet or a printer, she said.
The MP also hit out at changes to the 2022 Elections Act which put an end to indefinite postal votes. Previously, anyone granted a postal vote continued to receive them for as long as they wished, but now they have to re-apply online every three years.
"This is another measure which could stop people from exercising their fundamental right to vote and further disenfranchise those elderly or poorer people without access to the internet," the MP said. "According to the Government's own official "impact assessment," approximately 29% of those who lack photo ID would probably or definitely not apply for the Voter Authority Certificate. The same assessment warned that the introduction of identification at polling stations would make it quite difficult or very difficult to vote for older populations, particularly those aged 50-69 and 70+.
"The Government's decision to implement these new regulations was to prevent potential fraud at the polling station, but the latest figures from the Electoral Commission reveal that there was not a single proven case of in-person voter impersonation last year.
“The deadline to apply for the free voter ID is fast approaching, and anyone that needs it should get their application in. The Tories, through their despicable Voter ID reforms, are introducing a new hurdle, which threatens the voting rights of people in Sunderland and across the country. This disenfranchisement will disproportionately affect poor and marginalized people. Our best defence is to spread awareness and encourage our friends and family to apply as soon as they can. There is information and support available from the Electoral Commission and your local council. If you have friends or family who don’t have an accepted form of photo ID, please spread the word.”
According to The Mirror, the Government estimates the cost of providing ID to people who don't have any will cost taxpayers up to £230 million a year.
Election workers will be asked to keep tabs on how many people are turned away from polling stations in the local elections for a report to be published later by the Electoral Commission, and it's understood they will be allowed to use their ‘discretion’ on whether to allow people to vote with expired forms of ID.
A Government spokesperson said: “We cannot be complacent when it comes to ensuring our democracy remains secure and we expect even more people to apply as we near the date of elections. The vast majority of people already have a form of acceptable identification and we are actively supporting the very small proportion of people who may not. We are also funding the necessary equipment and staffing to support processing. Photo identification has been used in Northern Ireland elections since 2003 and we’re working closely with the sector to support the rollout and funding the necessary equipment and staffing.”
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