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Electoral fraud: Voters will have to show ID in pilot scheme | Electoral fraud: Voters will have to show ID in pilot scheme |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Voters will have to show proof of identity in a government pilot scheme to reduce electoral fraud. | |
Some councils in England, including Birmingham and Bradford, will trial the scheme at local elections in 2018. | |
Constitution minister Chris Skidmore said the pilot would "ensure the integrity of our electoral system". | Constitution minister Chris Skidmore said the pilot would "ensure the integrity of our electoral system". |
But former London mayor Ken Livingstone said it was a "political" move and would make life more difficult for most people because of a handful of crimes. | |
A full list of the participating councils has not been released, but the government wants to use the pilot scheme to see if it should be rolled out across the whole country. | A full list of the participating councils has not been released, but the government wants to use the pilot scheme to see if it should be rolled out across the whole country. |
Mr Skidmore said: "The government's view is that electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level. I want to protect the right of everyone to have their say and participate in our democracy. | Mr Skidmore said: "The government's view is that electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level. I want to protect the right of everyone to have their say and participate in our democracy. |
"That is why the new measures we are announcing today will protect anyone who is at risk of being bullied, undermined or tricked out of their vote - and their democratic right. | "That is why the new measures we are announcing today will protect anyone who is at risk of being bullied, undermined or tricked out of their vote - and their democratic right. |
"By eliminating fraud and tackling improper practices, we are ensuring the integrity of our electoral system while building a clear and secure democracy that works for everyone." | "By eliminating fraud and tackling improper practices, we are ensuring the integrity of our electoral system while building a clear and secure democracy that works for everyone." |
Pickles' plan | Pickles' plan |
The reform was first touted by former cabinet minister Sir Eric Pickles in August, when he released recommendations amid growing concerns about electoral fraud. | The reform was first touted by former cabinet minister Sir Eric Pickles in August, when he released recommendations amid growing concerns about electoral fraud. |
He tweeted that the government was "right to give greater powers to electoral officials and the police to deal with intimidation and other unwanted behaviour". | |
Different councils will trial different types of photo ID, including driving licences, passports or utility bills to prove addresses, although the creation of a new form of ID specifically for voting has been ruled out by ministers. | Different councils will trial different types of photo ID, including driving licences, passports or utility bills to prove addresses, although the creation of a new form of ID specifically for voting has been ruled out by ministers. |
Northern Ireland already requires voters to show ID before casting their ballot. | Northern Ireland already requires voters to show ID before casting their ballot. |
Labour's shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs, Cat Smith MP, said the party supported the plan. | Labour's shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs, Cat Smith MP, said the party supported the plan. |
However, she said more needed to be done to ensure eligible voters were registered after a change to the rules by the Conservatives in February meant people had to register as individuals, rather than as a household - a move that saw thousands of people drop off the register. | However, she said more needed to be done to ensure eligible voters were registered after a change to the rules by the Conservatives in February meant people had to register as individuals, rather than as a household - a move that saw thousands of people drop off the register. |
"The government's priority should be to ensure the integrity of the system, but also to address the fact that under them hundreds of thousands of people have fallen off the register due to their unnecessarily rushed changes," she said. | "The government's priority should be to ensure the integrity of the system, but also to address the fact that under them hundreds of thousands of people have fallen off the register due to their unnecessarily rushed changes," she said. |
"Despite what the Tories say, they have been more interested in fixing the rules to suit themselves, rather than helping the many eligible voters who are not on the electoral roll." | "Despite what the Tories say, they have been more interested in fixing the rules to suit themselves, rather than helping the many eligible voters who are not on the electoral roll." |
'Not justified' | |
Mr Livingstone, who was suspended from the Labour Party and is currently an independent, said the Conservative government was the driving force behind the idea. | |
"The real problem is the people most likely not to have a passport or a driving licence are going to be the poorest and that I suspect will basically hit the Labour Party," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
He continued: "It's really bad to make life more difficult for the vast majority of people when you're dealing with a handful of dodgy council people... | |
"If we had a real problem with fraud, as you've got in some dodgy countries around the world, it would be justified, but it really isn't." | |
As well as the trials, election officials and police will be given new powers to tackle intimidation of voters by activists, who will also be banned from collecting postal votes for submission - a practice known as "harvesting". | As well as the trials, election officials and police will be given new powers to tackle intimidation of voters by activists, who will also be banned from collecting postal votes for submission - a practice known as "harvesting". |
And the government has said it is also considering plans to check the nationality of voters to stop fraudulent registrations. | And the government has said it is also considering plans to check the nationality of voters to stop fraudulent registrations. |
There will also be reforms to improve the security of the postal ballot system, such as requiring postal voters to re-apply every three years. | There will also be reforms to improve the security of the postal ballot system, such as requiring postal voters to re-apply every three years. |