Council Notes with concern that this new requirement creates a new barrier to residents exercising their democratic right to vote and may lead to some residents being disenfranchised.
Council:
- Notes that new Voter ID requirements, introduced by the Elections Act 2022, involve voters having to show photo ID before being issued with a ballot paper at all elections from May 2023 onwards.
- Notes with concern that this new requirement creates a new barrier to residents exercising their democratic right to vote and may lead to some [OUR AREA] residents being disenfranchised.
- Notes that a list of ‘accepted’ forms of photo ID has been published and that this includes fewer forms of ID held by younger and marginalised people.
- Notes that voters can obtain a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ from the Council if they do not have an ‘accepted’ form of photo ID.
- Notes with concern the additional costs and administrative burden this will place on Electoral Services, and the risk of abuse towards poll workers from anyone denied a vote due to lack of ID.
- Believes that this legislation is unnecessary, undemocratic and an egregious example of attempted voter suppression.
Council therefore:
- Calls on [Cabinet members/Committee Chairs] and Council services to make every effort to communicate these new requirements, to avoid any resident being disenfranchised.
- Calls on the government to urgently expand the list of ‘accepted’ forms of photo ID and to fully fund the costs to Councils of implementing this policy.
- Requests that the Leader communicate Council’s views to government and to our local MP[s].
With thanks to Bath and NE Somerset Group for draft