Voters leave in tears as Brits without ID turned away in local elections chaos
Voters were left in tears after seeing people in their community turned away at polling stations because they did not have the correct ID at today's local elections.
New rules requiring people to show a valid form of photo ID caused chaos at polls as many Brits either did not have the right ID or had forgotten to bring it.
As early as 11am, Lib Dem MP Layla Moran said: “We’ve had reports by our tellers of people being turned away at polling stations for lack of correct ID.
“That’s just in my constituency so far. Across the country I’m worried this will be significant numbers and far more than the exactly 0 people found guilty of fraud last year.”
A Labour source, who was on the doorsteps encouraging people to vote, told the Mirror: “Literally the first door I knocked on, a woman in her 60s said: ‘No I can’t vote, I don’t have ID. I would vote but I’m not able to do it.’”
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A Labour source said they encountered Brits who wanted to vote but couldn't because they didn't have the correct ID (PA)Voter Tor wrote online that she “cried at the polling station this morning as the old lady in front of [her], who had struggled to walk there, was turned away. She had photo ID but not the right version”.
Tor said there was a “horrible atmosphere”, adding that she was interrogated on whether the photo on her passport was her.
Alison, who was in East Hampshire, also saw “an elderly lady turned away from voting because she didn’t have the right ID. She was left in tears as she walked back home.”
Alison, who was also crying, asked: “How many times across the country is this being repeated?”
It is the first ballot where voters have had to show photo identification to exercise their democratic right, under controversial rules introduced by the Tories.
Furious voters on social media said dropping by a polling station while on the school run or while running errands had been made more difficult because of the new rules.
Mum and step-mum of five Joanna said she doesn’t always carry ID and would “normally vote when passing on [her] way to somewhere else”, adding: “I certainly wouldn’t go home and get it and come back.”
People also raised issues on Twitter around not being able to vote because they were wearing a mask for health reasons.
One voter said there was a 'horrible atmosphere' at polling stations (Maureen McLean/REX/Shutterstock)Andrea, who is immunosuppressed, said she was “not allowed to vote once inside, despite bringing ID and a video of [her] putting on mask” as there were no options for reasonable adjustments.
She said she was “recorded as turned away with the reason: no guidance for those with Disability”.
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The Mirror reported this week that a 93-year-old cancer sufferer was excluded from voting after having participated in every election since 1950 due to the new photo ID rule.
Just 11p per person was spent by half of local authorities on awareness campaigns for the new Voter ID requirements, research by Unlock Democracy revealed this week.
Jess Garland, the Electoral Reform Society's director of policy and research, said: "We're already seeing countless examples of people being denied their right to vote due to these new laws.
"From people caught out by having the wrong type of photo ID to others turned away for not looking enough like their photo.
"One voter turned away is one voter too many. The Government must take lessons from the problems we're seeing today at polling stations across the country and face up to the fact that these new rules damage our elections more than they protect them."
Cllr Kevin Bentley, chairman of the Local Government Association’s people and places board: “Councils across the country are working incredibly hard today to deliver new voter ID requirements, which is the biggest change to in-person voting in 150 years.
“Electoral staff are following all guidance from the Electoral Commission to ensure the day goes as smoothly as possible and are encouraging voters who may have forgotten their photo ID to return with the appropriate documentation.
“Councils will be reporting into the Electoral Commission’s review of the process in the coming days and weeks. It is vitally important that the Government work with councils to rigorously and transparently evaluate the implementation of voter ID at today’s elections to ensure lessons are learned ahead of future elections.”
Some 8,141 council seats are up for grabs in 230 councils across England, in what will be PM Rishi Sunak's first big electoral test.
Labour hopes to make gains on councils such as Derby, Plymouth, Sheffield and South Ribble, Lancs.
As well as today's local council ballots, elections also are taking place to choose new mayors in Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough.
No votes are taking place in Wales, Scotland or London.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “If you’re planning to vote in person at your local elections, you must remember to bring accepted photo identification with you to the polling station.
“These changes will prevent electoral fraud and ensure elections remain free and fair.
“You can use a wide range of photo identification such as a driving licence, but make sure you check eligibility before heading out to vote.”
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