Constituents have contacted me about Voter ID and its impact in the May 2023 elections.
The Government holds that this move brings the rest of the UK in line with Northern Ireland, which has had photographic identification to vote in elections since 2003. As you may be aware, the introduction of voter identification follows successful pilots carried out in 2018 and 2019.
The May 2023 local elections saw the implementation of two new Elections Act policies: the requirement for voter identification and enhanced support for disabled voters. I recognise that a great deal of work was undertaken by Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and their electoral services teams to deliver the polls.
A number of independent reports which have been produced into the impact of voter identification. The Government is committed in legislation to conducting further evaluations of the voter identification policy at the next two UK Parliamentary general elections.
The Government is grateful to the Electoral Commission for its report on the May 2023 elections and constituents may be aware that the Electoral Commission found that the polls in May were well run, with 90 per cent of voters satisfied with the voting process. I join Ministers in welcoming the Commission’s finding that 99.75 per cent of voters in polling stations were able to successfully cast their vote under the new voter identification regulations. However, the Government has been clear that there is always room to learn, and has carefully considered and responded to all of the Commission's recommendations.
I am told that the Government will carefully consider the independent IFF Research report’s recommendations for ongoing improvements. It is worth noting that many of the report’s recommendations relate to the work of Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, their electoral service teams, the Electoral Commission and other partners, but I have been assured that the Government will continue to provide support.
The Government remains committed to regularly reviewing the list of accepted photographic identification, and will legislate accordingly if suitable additions are found. The Government will also continue to work closely in support of the Electoral Commission on raising awareness of the Voter Authority Certificate which was created so that anyone without identification has the option to apply for a free new one from their local authority.
Fiona Bruce MP
January 2024
