Theresa May’s Government has been urged to abandon its ‘voter ID’ plans over concerns it could cost £20 million per election and prevent thousands of vulnerable people from casting their votes.

In a report on the trials that took place during the May 2018 elections, the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) said it was a ‘disproportionate and ineffective way to cut down on voter fraud’.

The ERS fears the need for ID at polling stations may make it more difficult for those with disabilities, the homeless and older voters to vote.

At trials in May, 350 voters were turned away from the ballot box and did not return because they did not have the required ID.

The society’s director of research Jess Garland said: ‘Revelations about serious wrongdoing during the Brexit campaign have shaken our faith in our elections, with online campaigning starting to look like a “wild west” beyond the reach of our regulations. And yet the Government continues to pursue a policy that asks legitimate voters to identify themselves. If rolled out nationally, this scheme could cost the taxpayer up to £20 million per General Election and, based on this year’s trials, could disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters.’

Based upon a METRO Report 11/9/18.

Editor’s note: considering the terrible turnouts in recent elections, the Government should be actively investing in ways to encourage more people to vote, such as a secure, online method, not wasting taxpayers money on a problem that doesn’t exist in most parts of the country.

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