This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Introduce Voter ID in every UK constituency for all Local & General Elections
I believe that democracy is under threat from electoral fraud & that the general public are losing confidence in the security of the electoral process. It is time that Voter ID not just be promised, but rolled-out across the nation.
More details
Voter ID has been successfully in operation in Northern Ireland since it was implemented in 2002. After reports of identity theft at polling stations being reported during the December 2019 General Election, it is time for the Government to protect the ballot box and pass a law to introduce Voter ID across the board in all future elections, both Local & General.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 30 July 2020
The Government will implement voter ID at general and local (in England) elections, to increase public confidence and ensure our elections are secure.
The Government is committed to introducing measures to improve the integrity and security of each elector’s vote, whether it is cast at a polling station or remotely. Those measures are part of a much wider initiative to improve trust in the integrity of the electoral process, maintain public confidence and support inclusivity in our electoral system.
Our democracy is one based on integrity and the potential for voter fraud in our current electoral system undermines this. At present, you simply need to go to a polling station and say your name and address in order to get your ballot paper - a Victorian system based on trust and the assumption that people know everyone in their communities.
The Government maintains that showing ID before voting is a reasonable and proportionate solution to strengthen the integrity of our elections, and to deter and prevent opportunities for electoral fraud. People in all walks of life already show ID every day, for example to take out a library book, claim benefits or pick up a parcel from the post office. Proving who you are before you make a decision of huge importance at the ballot box should be no different.
We have successfully conducted 15 local authority voter ID pilots, and engaged with the electoral community and civil society groups. Both the 2018 and 2019 pilots helped to demonstrate what works best for voters and the evaluations provided the government with valuable insight to inform the implementation of this national policy.
The Government will bring forward measures that will improve the integrity and security of each elector’s vote, whether they vote at a polling station or elsewhere, and to make the process of voting at a polling station more accessible to disabled people.
As announced at the time of the Queen’s Speech on 19 December, electors will be required to show an approved form of photographic ID before casting their vote in a polling station at UK Parliamentary elections and other non-devolved elections in the UK. The list of approved photographic ID will not be limited to passports and driving licences, a broad range of commonly held photographic documents will be accepted.
Any voter who does not have one of the other acceptable forms of photographic ID, will be able to apply, free of charge, for a local elector ID from their local authority, ensuring that everyone who is eligible to vote will have the opportunity to do so. The provision of local elector ID will be by exception rather than the norm.
The measures related to postal and proxy voting will improve the integrity of voting that takes place remotely. The proposed accessibility measures include increasing the range of support available to voters with disabilities in polling stations, and allowing a wider range of people (such as carers) to assist disabled voters in polling stations.
Voter ID has applied to elections in Northern Ireland since 1985, with photo ID being required since 2003. Both the pilots and the Northern Irish experience demonstrate that the requirement to provide ID before voting does not have a negative effect on election turnout or participation. Other democracies across the world such as Canada, the Netherlands, France and Germany also require voter ID and utilize this with ease.
The Government remains committed to rolling out this effective anti-fraud measure and bringing the whole of the United Kingdom into line with Northern Ireland. Strengthening the integrity of our electoral system will give the public confidence that our elections are secure and fit for the 21st century. If people are confident about the electoral system, they are more likely to participate in it.
We will bring forward legislation enabling the implementation of voter ID and wider electoral integrity measures as stated in the Queen’s Speech.
Cabinet Office
Related activity
Government announces plans for laws to safeguard elections
As part of the Queen's Speech on Tuesday 11th May, the Government announced that it plans to introduce new laws to protect the integrity of elections in the UK.
The Government's proposals include new protections on postal and proxy voting, requiring voters to produce identification to vote in a polling station, new measures to prevent foreign interference in elections, and removing the 15 year limit on the voting rights of British expats.
The Government intends to introduce a new Bill into Parliament to make these changes - the Electoral Integrity Bill. This Bill will be published in due course.
Read the Queen's Speech background briefing notes for more information on the Government's proposed Bill:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/queens-speech-2021-background-briefing-notes
What is the Queen's Speech?
The Queen's Speech is the speech that the Queen reads out in the House of Lords Chamber on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament.
It's written by the Government and sets out the programme of Bills - new laws, and changes to existing laws - that the Government intends to put forward in this new Parliamentary session. A session of Parliament usually lasts around one year.
Once the Government puts forward a Bill in Parliament, Parliament then debates the Government's proposal and decides whether to adopt the changes to the law set out in the Bill.
MPs to debate the introduction of voter ID
MPs will debate the introduction of voter ID on Tuesday 13 July in Westminster Hall, a debating chamber in the House of Commons.
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
The debate will start at around 4.50pm and last for up to an hour. Watch it here this Tuesday: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/67778941-ab20-47a6-9cf2-a2f5cb07619e
You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-07-14
Find out more about how debates work in Westminster Hall: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/westminster-hall-debates/
MPs to debate proposed voter ID laws
MPs will debate the Elections Bill on Tuesday 7 September in the main House of Commons chamber.
The Bill includes proposals to require voters to show voter ID in polling stations for UK parliamentary elections, local elections in England and police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales.
Watch the debate, which should start after 12.40pm on Tuesday 7 September: https://parliamentlive.tv/commons
Read the Bill and follow its progress here:
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3020
Read research from the House of Commons library about Voter ID here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9187/
What is Second Reading?
The Second Reading of a Bill is the first opportunity for MPs to debate the general principles of the Bill. At the end of the debate, MPs vote on whether they think the Bill should proceed to the next stage of the process for making new laws and changing existing ones, known as Committee Stage.
Find out more about Second Readings: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/passage-bill/lords/lrds-commons-second-reading/