Picture Perfect?
Nicola Biggerstaff
Moving house has always been a bit of a nightmare. Between the whims of market prices, all that packing and heavy lifting, the seemingly unending list of improvements to make a house a home. And in amongst all that, we’re also expected to remember to change our details on every online account, every subscription, and contact every relative to update their address book (whether on their phone or still on paper).
For those who followed my journey to home ownership in our newsletter last year, I am pleased to report that I did remember to update most of my details following the move, except one. The one that I wasn’t in immediate need of, that wasn’t illegal to not immediately update, and yet the most pertinent to my job here at Common Weal.
I forgot to update my details on the voting register. Gasp.
This was quickly amended as soon as I remembered, and I am now a proud registered voter again. However, I was shocked when this summer I received a letter from the local authority, with an accompanying flyer which read:
Bring Photo ID to vote in some elections
You may have received this flyer yourself, as varying pilot schemes across the UK have now deemed this latest stunt by the Westminster government acceptable for nationwide rollout, culminating in their local elections of May this year. Despite concerns from voters, including the 14,000 people who were left unable to cast ballots on the day due to a number of issues, or the estimated 4% of previously eligible voters who could not or chose not to vote at all in advance due to these new restrictions, `it has now been decided that the next general election – whenever it may be – will have mandatory Photo ID requirements in order to remain eligible to vote.
Voter ID has always been a controversial move, but is not uncommon on an international scale. The key difference, however, is many of these nations which require ID to vote have provisions in place to ensure that no resident becomes disenfranchised. This may take the form of the free provision of state or voter ID, such as in Argentina, or a more relaxed approach to identification, such as in Australia, where voters are asked to provide their details, such as their address, at the polling booth to confirm their identity, as we have had here in the UK.
As my colleagues here have stated many times, and which I shall reiterate now: any attempts to introduce strict, mandatory photo ID requirements in order to vote, without a provision of free, state-issued ID, is voter suppression. It is a clear and unscrupulous attempt by this government, the latest in their last hurrahs of insanity, to desperately cling on to power in the face of their nosedive in public confidence and popularity.
So how does this happen?
Simply put, Photo ID is expensive. With the cost of applying for or renewing a passport potentially running into the hundreds of pounds, some may find keeping an up-to-date driving licence more convenient, at a cost of just £20. That’s if you can afford to apply for the provisional, book and attend lessons, fork out for the test, then the cost of renewing the licence seems like a pittance to the privileged. And even then, with our purse strings ever tightening, that £20 could now mean the difference between a family with a car eating that week or not. This obviously risks disenfranchising lower income voters, who historically do not vote for the government currently in power.
But there are some forms of Photo ID deemed acceptable for elections which are provided for free. Every nation’s equivalent to the senior citizen’s bus pass, for instance. However, a young person’s bus pass, with exception to the Scottish National Entitlement (Young Scot) Card, will not be accepted. There are many other discrepancies in the list of accepted forms of voter ID which ultimately benefit certain demographics. The point to be made here is that older people have a lot more, freely available, options for Photo ID under these new regulations than young people, thus making it more likely for them to turn out to vote. And as we all know, many of the older demographic are strong supporters of the party in government.
The government have attempted to remedy this with the issue of so-called Voter Authority Certificates. However, these have been announced to so little fanfare you couldn’t be blamed for missing it. Furthermore, by having to register your details in order to be issued with one, it defeats the purpose entirely of ID being provided in order to vote. What about voters who have no internet access, who are now also at risk of being deemed ineligible to vote.
It is obvious what their intentions are, as we have previously alluded to. The death knell of this government who will do anything to remain in power, including manipulating our civic rights, beyond the next election.
Our only saving grace is that this legislation has stopped fast at the border, with no signs of Voter ID being introduced for Holyrood elections. We must, however, remain vigilant, and continue to make our voices heard however we can, by continuing to participate wherever we can.