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Written question asked by Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 4 October 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 October 2021. It was answered by Lord Greenhalgh (Conservative) on Monday, 18 October 2021 on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the voter identification pilot schemes, what estimate they have made of the number of people who could be turned away from polling stations in a General Election.

Answer

The Government in its manifesto committed to protecting the integrity of our democracy by introducing identification to vote at polling stations. Stealing someone’s vote is stealing their voice. Voter fraud is a crime that we cannot allow room for and we must stamp out any potential for it to take place in elections.

Everyone who is eligible to vote will have the opportunity to do so. Any eligible voter who does not have one of the required forms of photographic identification, can apply for a free, local Voter Card from their local authority. The Electoral Commission will provide a comprehensive, targeted communications campaign and guidance, raising awareness throughout the electorate of the new voter identification requirements.

As set out in the Elections Bill, Electoral Registration Officers in England and Wales and Returning Officers in Scotland will be required to keep a record of those people for whom a ballot paper was refused and the reasons for this refusal.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL2880
Session
2021-22
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Elections Proof of identity Polling stations
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk