Members of Parliament have debated the Elections Bill, which would make it mandatory to show photo ID when casting a vote at local and national elections. The Government has proposed this Bill with the stated intention to reduce voter fraud.
As this blog post highlights, mandatory voter ID has the potential to prevent millions – disproportionately ethnic minority, working-class, LGBT+, elderly, and young people – from voting. Given the low rates of voter fraud in this country, the introduction of legislation that hinders already excluded groups from participating in democratic processes is a disproportionate response to an invisible problem.