Dear Mr DownieThank you for contacting me about voter IDA secure electoral system is a vital component of a health democracy, and the public must have confidence that our elections are secure and fit for the 21st Century. Asking voters to bring ID to their polling station is an important way of achieving this and the electoral Integrity Bill will put such a requirement into law.Voter ID is not new. Northern Ireland had required paper ID at polling stations since 1985, and photo ID since 2003 — introduced by the last Labour Government. It has been proved to be effective at tackling fraud and not curtailed election turnout.Identification to vote has been backed by the Electoral Commission and international elections watchdogs. At present, it is harder to take out a library book or collect a parcel at a post office than it is to vote in someone else’s name.In pilot schemes in 2019 and 2018, the overwhelming majority go people cast their vote without a problem and the success of the pilots proves that this is a reasonable and proportionate measure to take, and that there was no notable effect on turnout.Under the Government’s proposals, anyone without an ID will be able to apply for a new free one — meaning that no voter, including those, like you, on Universal Credit, will be disenfranchised as you have suggested.Thank you again, for taking the time to contact me to share your concerns.Yours sincerely,Alex Burghart, MP.
Dear Mr Burghart.First things, I’d like to take this chance to thank you for explaining the Electoral Integrity Bill to me: I appreciate this takes up a lot of your valuable time.I did, however, want to raise a couple of follow up points with you.
I’d like to quibble the ease of applying for a library ticket or pick up a parcel with you.The last time I need to apply for a Library card, I only needed a couple of letters with my address on them.The last parcel I need to pick up from the Post Office?I only needed my bank card, and the card left by the postman.Could you explain the current ID needed for proxy voting: I’m unfamiliar with it.
But if proxy voting is truly easier then collecting a parcel?Why not insist on photo ID just for those casting a proxy vote?Secondly? In the 2019 and 2018 pilot schemes, how did those of us with no ID, identify themselves?Thirdly, and finally … ?
I have to admit, I knew about the proposed ‘Free Photo ID cards.’ The media coverage does mention it.
That ‘free voter ID’ is where, again, I have concerns about costs.In order to claim this free voter ID, I’m assuming I would need to provide a passport sized photo: is that correct?
And would need a letter as proof of address, and possibly a birth certificate.Replacement birth certificates, if needed, will cost money: some thirty-five pounds, going by the relevant site.Passport ID photos would also cost money.
I have to ask, Mr Burghart, how am I supposed to afford that free voter ID: if I can’t afford the documents needed to apply for it?As well intentioned as this bill is, it still seems I have to buy my right to vote.Yours,
vlc, had release a version of the player for the AppleTV.AppleTV’s native software. And you have to jump through a couple more hoops — you connect the software on the AppleTV to a remote control page, in a web browser, and drag and top the files in to the browser page — than you do, using iTunes.
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