Ballotters are expressing their concern over the new requirement for photo ID when voting, despite data showing over 90% UK citizens having it.
Local elections are open from 7am to 10pm today and this is the first election where photo ID is required to be able to vote.
The policy’s purpose is to reduce the amount of electoral fraud which may take place, however, according to the Electoral Commission only 193 cases of fraud were reported last year, and of that, 119 resulted in no further action.
Only 38 cases (20%) of alleged fraud related to voting.
The bill has received some heavy criticism since its announcement, with some accusing it of ‘pricing out’ a demographic of voters.
An anonymous source working at a polling station in Sheffield said, “the turnout so far has been really low across the city compared to previous years. We had a person come in with a bank card thinking they could use it as ID. There is an issue that some people won’t be able to afford £40 for a drivers licence let alone £100ish for a passport. This free voter certificate hasn’t had anywhere near enough advertising”.
Results from the 2021 census showed that 98% of respondents had a photo ID compared to 85% recorded in 2011, but when asked about the survey, people explain that even with photo ID there are barriers to being able to vote under the new policy.
91% of respondents held photo ID that was both in date and recognisable.
Hannah Auld, 23, Crookesmoor Road said, “I’m going through the process of legally changing my name at the moment. I wasn’t able to get any form of valid id for about 7 months.”
My passport took 10 months to come. There was a huge backlog of passports, if I was still on the list I wouldn’t have been able to vote.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there was more delays in issuing photo IDs around this time. Needing ID ostracises a big group of voters.”
Disabled people were 3% more likely to have an unrecognisable photo ID compared to non disabled people, and those over 85 were 4-7% less likely to have a recognisable, in date photo ID.
In the same 2021 census, 42% of those with photo ID said they were unlikely to apply for a voter ID card.
The same policy has been in place in many other European countries for years, and voters in support of the idea believe that it ‘just takes some getting used to’.
Niall O’Kane, 19, Bower Road said, “There has to be some way of regulating who votes because voter fraud is a problem, anyone can turn up and vote”.
Another source, choosing to remain anonymous, said: “Well you really have to have a valid form of id in the day and age as it is a necessity”.
The new legislation has given some consideration to those who do not have voter ID, introducing a ‘voter authority certificate’ for those who don’t have photo ID, or are concerned about the validity/ use of their ID when voting.
The certificate requires those who sign up to fill in a form which can be found here.
If you want to vote but do not have a fixed or permanent address, you will need to fill in a separate form which can be found here.
We have contacted a number of Sheffield MP’s for a comment.