It is of concern to councils that this review has found that some groups may have been more impacted than others by the introduction of Voter ID, with a small number being left unable to vote
Responding to a report by the Electoral Commission which found that around 14,000 people were unable to vote due to new Voter ID requirements, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association said:
“Councils have risen to the challenge to deliver these new Voter ID requirements smoothly and this is a testament to the hard work of local election teams across the country. They also did all they could with the resources they had to raise awareness of the changes in their local communities.
“It is a fundamental part of the democratic process that elections can run smoothly and effectively where every citizen is able to exercise their right to vote. It is therefore of concern to councils that this review has found that some groups may have been more impacted than others by the introduction of Voter ID, with a small number being left unable to vote.
“Councils know their communities best and with the right resources are a key part of the solution to tackle a lack of awareness of Voter ID requirements in local areas. This is particularly important as we approach a potential general election, where turnout will likely be much higher.
“We look forward to hearing the Electoral Commission’s forthcoming recommendations and hope that the Government act decisively to address any concerns the Commission raise.”