Add your name: Don't let the government take away your right to vote

In the upcoming English local elections voters will need to show ID for the first time. Government-commissioned research found that over 2 million people don’t have any recognisable photo ID. Shockingly, under 20,000 people have applied for a Voter Authority Certificate so far - the only option if you don't have one of the government's approved forms of ID.

Councillors will get elected with margins smaller than the number of voters the government turned away. Every vote matters - the government shouldn't turn away voters.

We can't run an election like this - we need to cancel the scheme so nobody's right to vote is taken away.

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Background

Possession of photo ID is uneven in the UK, with those short on time and money less likely to have the required paperwork. This law will make it harder for those already having a tough time to have their say.

The government trialled this policy ID during the 2018 and 2019 English local elections in a handful of affluent local authorities. Even with public information campaigns, over 1,000 voters were refused a ballot for not having the right paperwork. The government now want to roll out this scheme to everyone for the 2023 local elections.

There is a reason groups as wide ranging as the Salvation Army to Stonewall, Age UK and racial equality organisations oppose these plans: they will impact some people more than others and pull up the drawbridge to people across the country.

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