The government’s plans to require voters to display an approved form of ID to cast ballots in elections have faced a setback in the House of Lords.
Ministers intend to crack down on voter fraud by requiring an approved form of ID to be displayed at polling stations. Those without one would be able to obtain a free voter card from the local authority in order to cast their vote.
However, during a debate of the Elections Bill, Lord Willetts argued that it would be less costly if the government were simply to widen the range of acceptable forms of ID, with peers voting 199 to 170 in favour of his amendment.
While the argument for tackling voter fraud is a valid one, some critics of the government’s plans have suggested people may be discouraged from voting as a result.
Lord Willetts’ amendment therefore suggests that forms of ID such as library cards and workplace or student IDs should also be accepted as verification of identity.
Lord Willetts said: “Imagine if the outcome of the next election is a modest majority... where throughout the day the media story has been voters being turned away from polling stations.
“That seems to me a very significant political and constitutional risk that does need to be taken into account if this measure is introduced.”
Labour peer Baroness Hayman backed the amendment, saying that it would “help to mitigate against the serious concerns about the impact of photographic voter identification on turnout”.
Meanwhile, independent crossbencher Lord Woolley - the peer behind the Operation Black Vote campaign to increase voter registration - wanted the requirement for photo ID at polling stations to be removed altogether.
Ministers must now weigh up whether to overturn the amendment in the House of Commons or make a concession. The Commons is next due to sit on April 19 following the current recess.
Concerns do remain that some of the wider forms of ID proposed in Lord Willetts’ amendment may still provide wiggle room for fraud, with cabinet office minister Lord True warning that some of the suggested options such as library cards do not include photos and will not “provide the appropriate level of proof” of the holder’s identity.
Image taken from Wikimedia Commons
