Photo ID rules risk blocking marginalised people from voting warns BASW

Concern new law may deter thousands from democratic process
A British passport
Not everyone has a passport, driving licence or other accepted form of ID

A new law requiring photo ID at polling stations could discourage vast numbers of the most marginalised people in society from voting, BASW is warning.

The association said: "We are calling on social workers to take action to prevent mass disenfranchisement of the people we support by supporting people to get their ID so they can’t be denied their rights.” 

The forthcoming General Election will be the first since the law aimed at preventing electoral fraud was introduced in 2022. 

But Cabinet Office research has found people with disabilities, people on benefits, those without qualifications and people who had never voted before are all less likely to hold ID.

An estimated three million people without ID now face an additional barrier to voting, according to the Electoral Reform Society.

In the local elections of 2023, some 14,000 people who turned up to vote at their polling station were told to come back with ID but never returned.

Mike Wright, of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “Voting is a fundamental democratic right, and no one should be barred from casting a vote to which they are entitled. The fact is our inconsistent and arbitrary voter ID law has already prevented thousands of people from voting and even wrongfooted the prime minister who brought into law.”

BASW’s ‘Promote the Vote’ campaign features a new practice guide which outlines ways social workers can support people to obtain their ID. 

Anyone registered to vote without the correct ID - or who no longer looks like their photo - could be turned away on polling day.

Voters can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, a newly introduced form of ID brought in to support people who: 

  • Do not have accepted photo ID
  • No longer look like the photo on their ID
  • Have a different name on their photo ID to the name on the electoral register

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. 

More information on voter ID can be seen at the Electoral Commission website – easy read and large print versions are available.