Photo Id To Vote - Voter Suppression Or Election Fraud Prevention?

[apelike]

22 minutes ago, CaptainSwing said:

Back on topic, I've been looking at Wikipedia entries on identity cards in other European countries, which I didn't know anything about.  Of the countries I've looked at, they're compulsory in Germany, Spain and Belgium.  In some places having an identity document of some sort is compulsory, and the ID card is one of the options.  In other places, as far as I can tell, it's optional but a lot of people find it convenient.  Everywhere seems to have an ID card of one form or another, but nowhere is it specific to voting.

Exactly my point as the ID cards used in European Countries are National ID cards whereas the ID voter card being introduced in the UK is not a National ID card but just a voter ID card.

[alchresearch]

19 hours ago, apelike said:

 the ID voter card being introduced in the UK is not a National ID card but just a voter ID card.

Is it?

 

This article just states  an "approved form of identification"

 

and goes on to list them:

 

passport

UK, Irish or European Economic Area (EEA) driving licence

electoral identity card - a free card issued by the electoral authorities (using a much wider range of ID)

various types of passes issued by Translink, the public transport provider

 

The Electoral Commission recommended a small number of other forms of ID could be added to this list, such as:

 

military and police ID cards

firearms licences

It estimated that would mean about 92.5% of the electorate already had suitable ID.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50044539

[Thirsty Relic]

3 hours ago, alchresearch said:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50044539

This article went on to say:

 

"In a pilot scheme of voter ID checks in 10 areas during the local elections in England in 2019, about 2,000 people were turned away at polling stations for lack of ID. Of those, 750 failed to return with ID."

 

This is despite the fact that people in these test areas were told months in advance (and no doubt reminded by local parties on the run-up to Poling Day) which form of ID they needed to produce to vote.  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-round-of-voter-id-pilots-announced-for-2019

 

Consider how many did not go in the first place because they had not got the required ID.

[El Cid]

1 hour ago, Thirsty Relic said:

This article went on to say:

"In a pilot scheme of voter ID checks in 10 areas during the local elections in England in 2019, about 2,000 people were turned away at polling stations for lack of ID. Of those, 750 failed to return with ID."

The least educated tend to vote Conservative, maybe the those voters are Tories and this policy will backfire 

 

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/10/31/2019-general-election-demographics-dividing-britai

[apelike]

1 hour ago, CaptainSwing said:

The voter ID proposals are doubtless intended as a form of voter suppression, 

But are they and that is the point. Its ok saying that but proving it to be the case is another thing especially as there will be no reason to use any voter ID for several years yet so plenty of time to get some. Just because some may not have them now does not alter that fact.

Edited May 18, 2021 by apelike

[RollingJ]

4 minutes ago, apelike said:

But are they and that is the point. Its ok saying that but proving it to be the case is another thing especially as there will be no reason to use any voter ID for several years yet so plenty of time to get some. Just because some may not have them now does not alter that fact.

👍👍

[apelike]

8 minutes ago, CaptainSwing said:

We can agree to differ about that if you like, but that wasn't my main point.

[apelike]

14 minutes ago, CaptainSwing said:

I'd still be interested to hear what you think about the rest of my post, but no worries if not of course.

Sorry I didn't think you were bothered but...

 

As stated before when the national ID scheme was first proposed by the Blair government I was against it as I was some of his other policies as well but that may be influenced by the fact that I just don't like him. The idea that introducing a National ID card it was a ruse to gather information to me is now and also then bogus. It was also supposed to be introduced to help with countering terrorism IIRC. I already pointed out that people are now happy to forward personal information for free with loyalty cards etc but it's even worse that that as many now sign up to facebook etc but that I suppose is a sign of the times.  Now though I think the time has come to think again with having an national ID card especially in light of this new voter ID scheme and the only thing I would object to now is making it compulsory to carry. As you say the rest of Europe is comfortable with them even Germany who are against any affront to privacy (see take up of their covid app) have ID cards.  

 

14 minutes ago, CaptainSwing said:

Having passed the 2,000 post mark, I'm now going to take a break from the forum.

Well have fun and enjoy the break.

[Jeffrey Shaw]

Whyever should ID items already in circulation not be produced by a person seeking to vote?

Just try going to your bank branch (yes, unlikely, as most have closed-down) and seeking services without any ID items!

Or even seeking just about any online service without having to prove who you are and your home address.

 

No new national ID card ought to be needed.

9 hours ago, Thirsty Relic said:

This article went on to say:

 

"In a pilot scheme of voter ID checks in 10 areas during the local elections in England in 2019, about 2,000 people were turned away at polling stations for lack of ID. Of those, 750 failed to return with ID."

 

This is despite the fact that people in these test areas were told months in advance (and no doubt reminded by local parties on the run-up to Poling Day) which form of ID they needed to produce to vote.  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-round-of-voter-id-pilots-announced-for-2019

Good point. Perhaps those 750 were fraudsters.

[HeHasRisen]

12 hours ago, CaptainSwing said:

I'd still be interested to hear what you think about the rest of my post, but no worries if not of course.

 

Having passed the 2,000 post mark, I'm now going to take a break from the forum.

Is that normal practice once you get to 2000? Gosh, I better not get there too quickly.