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New voter ID rules could help prominent Conservative MPs in the next general election, according to a poll.
The poll also suggests the Conservative Party could be reduced to fewer than 100 MPs in the general election, while Sir Keir Starmer’s party could gain 468 seats in a landslide. It also became clear that
Photo ID requirements are Election Law 2022the government said it was necessary to combat the risk of in-person voter fraud.
However, campaign groups such as Best for Britain said that in-person voting fraud is extremely rare and that the requirement would disadvantage young people and ethnic minorities, who are less likely to vote Conservative. is criticizing.
Claim: Awareness of voter ID rules could be ‘decisive’ in some parliamentary seats
A poll conducted by campaign group Best for Britain found that 16% of people did not know they would need a photo ID to vote in upcoming local and general elections, resulting in around 5 million It turns out that more than one voter could be denied their vote by a polling place.
The group suggested that if the numbers were repeated nationwide, around 5 million voters could be turned away from polling places.
The poll predicted that around 1.85 million people in marginal seats did not know about voter ID rules, including around 9,800 people in Mr Sunak’s constituency of Richmond and Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: ‘Polling suggests it will not be enough to change the outcome of the next general election, but unnecessary photo ID The introduction of this could be the difference between winning and losing for celebrities.” He is a conservative in a marginal constituency. ”
The poll of 15,000 people suggests the Conservatives are heading for their worst-ever defeat, with the Conservatives expected to win just 98 seats based on current polls. ing.
The majority of the prime minister, prime minister and other prominent figures, including Liz Truss, is expected to fall to less than 5%, with Best for Britain reporting that lack of awareness about voter ID requirements is a “crucial” factor for these MPs. ”, he argued.
The poll also suggests the requirement could hurt small parties’ chances of making gains, with around 9,600 people in Waveney Valley, a target seat for the Greens, unaware of the rules and the Liberal Democrats’ Around 10,000 people in the target seats of St Ives and South Cambridgeshire were unaware of the rules.
Confusion about ID requirements was highest among 18-24 year olds, with 27% not knowing about the rules, compared to 6% of over-65s.
Around 27 per cent of Scottish voters and 20 per cent of Welsh voters were unclear about voter ID rules, with the poll finding higher levels of confusion among minority ethnic groups.
Reality: Questions remain about the impact of voter ID rules
Concerns have always been raised about the impact new voter ID laws will have on people’s ability to vote in upcoming elections, but it remains unclear whether they will be enough to change the outcome of the polls.
Sadiq Khan, currently campaigning for a third term as London’s Labor mayor, has repeatedly argued that voter ID rules could hurt his chances of being re-elected.
The party calculates that more than 900,000 Londoners do not have the photo ID they need to vote, the majority of them in Labour’s core.
However, there is no clear existing evidence that the rejection of people for lack of identification had a significant enough impact on a single party or candidate to lose or win an election. .
Voter turnout in local elections is typically much lower than in general elections, and there have been no national polls since the new rules took effect.
An interim analysis conducted by the Election Commission after the 2023 local elections also found that 87% of people knew about voter ID rules before election day, but that rose to 92% after election day.
The figures also showed that 99.75 per cent of voters successfully cast their ballots in the final round of local elections in May 2023, with around 14,000 voters refusing to cast their votes.
About 0.7% of voters were initially denied voting because they did not have the correct identification, but two-thirds of those affected were able to return and vote later that day.
Overall, these numbers suggest that a lack of awareness about voter ID rules may not make up the whole picture. That’s because the numbers suggested by the Best for Britain poll could fall, depending on people returning to the polls with the correct ID and increased awareness ahead of the general election.
The Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities also said it would “work closely with local authorities and other partners to raise awareness” of the requirements.
A Department spokesperson said: “Following the recommendations of international election monitoring bodies and in line with long-standing arrangements in Northern Ireland, we have introduced the requirement to show a photo ID when voting in person across the UK.” said.
“We are committed to giving everyone a voice in our democracy and the Election Commission will continue to conduct public awareness campaigns ahead of relevant polls.
What are the acceptable formats for voter ID?
To vote in the following elections under the new rules, you will be required to show identification.
- local elections
- Election of police and crime commissioners
- British parliamentary by-election
- recall petition
- british general election
All forms of photo ID that count as valid identification for voters are:
- Passports issued by the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, the British Overseas Territories, European Economic Area (EEA) countries, or Commonwealth countries
- A driving license issued in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or any EEA state (this includes a provisional driving license)
- blue badge
- British government-subsidized bus passes for older people
- Disabled bus passes subsidized by the UK government
- Oyster 60+ card funded by the UK government
- freedom pass
- Scottish citizenship card
- Wales complimentary travel card for over 60s
- Wales Concessionary Travel Card for Disabled Persons
- Senior Smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland
- A registered Blind Smart Pass or Blind Smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland
- War Disability Smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland
- Over 60 Smart Passes issued in Northern Ireland
- Half-price Smart Pass issued in Northern Ireland
- Identity card (pass card) with hologram of age proof standard scheme
- biometric immigration documents
- Ministry of Defense Form 90 (Defense Identification Card)
- National ID card issued by an EEA state
- Voter ID card issued in Northern Ireland
- anonymous elector documents
If it’s expired, you can use a valid form of photo ID, such as a passport, as long as the person in the photo looks like you.
However, you must bring the original. Copies or photos of ID will not be accepted.
Those who do not have the above identification documents You can apply for your free voter certificate online here Participate in elections.