To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 270(c)) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council (Councillor’s Wrigley and Bailey agreed to merge two separate motions on the same matter, the composite wording outlined below as accepted by Council) and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely
The Government has recently introduced a requirement for photographic identification before electors are to be permitted to vote.
This is to take effect for all elections from May 2023.
Devon condemns the introduction of the requirement for Voter Photo ID and considers that the introduction of photographic ID for elections is completely unnecessary, as voter fraud is extremely rare, and at the last count, a single prosecution was taken forward on the matter. The move would have the effect of suppressing voter participation in democratic processes.
The requirement for Voter Photo ID will disenfranchise anyone without a UK Driving Licence or Passport in their hands at the time of voting. The range of additional acceptable IDs is limited and skewed towards the elderly.
The Council considers that the new rules would place a considerable burden on Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, and polling staff who would have to adjudicate on identification issues. Staff at polling stations would inevitably have to deal with angry would-be voters turned away from the polling stations. Furthermore, District councils are expected to deliver free IDs with no funding or guidance yet issued, despite it being less than six months until the elections.
The Association of Electoral Administration considers that the timelines for the new rules under the Elections Act ‘are optimistic at best, undeliverable at worst’. Details of how voters without photographic ID can apply for a 'Voter Authority Certificate' has not even been published yet.
The move could suppress the number of residents who should be able to vote, which does not reflect British standards for democracy and respect for voters.
Motion
The Council therefore agrees;
1. To ask the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Council Network (CCN) to raise the matter with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities expressing its great concern about the proposed use of photographic identification for May 2023 elections.
2. In particular the Council stresses its concern about the procedures to be introduced, which will have a disproportionately detrimental impact on younger voters for whom the procedures will be more challenging than for older voters. The Council asks the LGA and the CCN to press the Government to actively seek to encourage young people to participate in elections, not to place obstacles in the way of young would-be voters.
3. Asks the LGA and the CCN to press the Secretary of State not to introduce voter photographic identification for the scheduled 2023 elections. The Council also asks the LGA and the CCN to urge the Secretary of State to engage in debate with the LGA and CCN about the need for voter photographic identification, and should it be concluded that it is necessary that a more acceptable system be considered.
4. The Council agrees to send a copy of its message to the LGA and the CCN to its MPs and the Prime Minister.
Having had regard to the aforementioned, any factual briefing/position statement on the matter set out in Report (LDS/23/1) and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting the Cabinet subsequently resolved:
(a) that Council note the concerns raised by the Notice of Motion, in particular the additional requirements on Local Authorities to deliver Voter ID in a short timescale and also the additional financial costs at a time when budgets are constrained and squeezed;
(b) that Council share the concern of the Local Government Association, as articulated by its Chair, Cllr James Jamieson and further supports its view of the Gould Principle whereby electoral law should not be changed within six months of an election that the change would impact; and
(c) therefore, Council agrees to write to the LGA outlining its support of the LGA’s position and that the letter be copied to the CCN and the Devon MP’s.
Decision:
Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and
(a) that Council note the concerns raised by the Notice of Motion, in particular the additional requirements on Local Authorities to deliver Voter ID in a short timescale and also the additional financial costs at a time when budgets are constrained and squeezed;
(b) that Council shares the concern of the Local Government Association, as articulated by its Chair, Cllr James Jamieson and further supports its view of the Gould Principle whereby electoral law should not be changed within six months of an election that the change would impact; and
(c) therefore, Council agrees to write to the LGA outlining its support of the LGA’s position and that the letter be copied to the CCN and the Devon MP’s.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and subsequently thereafter also CARRIED as the substantive motion.
Minutes:
Pursuant to County Council Minute 171 and 172 of 8 December 2022 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded (Councillor’s Wrigley and Bailey agreed to merge two separate motions on the same matter, the composite wording outlined below as accepted by Council):
The Government has recently introduced a requirement for photographic identification before electors are to be permitted to vote.
This is to take effect for all elections from May 2023.
Devon condemns the introduction of the requirement for Voter Photo ID and considers that the introduction of photographic ID for elections is completely unnecessary, as voter fraud is extremely rare, and at the last count, a single prosecution was taken forward on the matter. The move would have the effect of suppressing voter participation in democratic processes.
The requirement for Voter Photo ID will disenfranchise anyone without a UK Driving Licence or Passport in their hands at the time of voting. The range of additional acceptable IDs is limited and skewed towards the elderly.
The Council considers that the new rules would place a considerable burden on Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, and polling staff who would have to adjudicate on identification issues. Staff at polling stations would inevitably have to deal with angry would-be voters turned away from the polling stations. Furthermore, District councils are expected to deliver free IDs with no funding or guidance yet issued, despite it being less than six months until the elections.
The Association of Electoral Administration considers that the timelines for the new rules under the Elections Act ‘are optimistic at best, undeliverable at worst’. Details of how voters without photographic ID can apply for a 'Voter Authority Certificate' has not even been published yet.
The move could suppress the number of residents who should be able to vote, which does not reflect British standards for democracy and respect for voters.
Motion
The Council therefore agrees;
1. To ask the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Council Network (CCN) to raise the matter with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities expressing its great concern about the proposed use of photographic identification for May 2023 elections.
2. In particular the Council stresses its concern about the procedures to be introduced, which will have a disproportionately detrimental impact on younger voters for whom the procedures will be more challenging than for older voters. The Council asks the LGA and the CCN to press the Government to actively seek to encourage young people to participate in elections, not to place obstacles in the way of young would-be voters.
3. Asks the LGA and the CCN to press the Secretary of State not to introduce voter photographic identification for the scheduled 2023 elections. The Council also asks the LGA and the CCN to urge the Secretary of State to engage in debate with the LGA and CCN about the need for voter photographic identification, and should it be concluded that it is necessary that a more acceptable system be considered.
4. The Council agrees to send a copy of its message to the LGA and the CCN to its MPs and the Prime Minister.
and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 270(c) of 11 January 2023:
Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and
(a) that Council note the concerns raised by the Notice of Motion, in particular the additional requirements on Local Authorities to deliver Voter ID in a short timescale and also the additional financial costs at a time when budgets are constrained and squeezed;
(b) that Council shares the concern of the Local Government Association, as articulated by its Chair, Cllr James Jamieson and further supports its view of the Gould Principle whereby electoral law should not be changed within six months of an election that the change would impact; and
(c) therefore, Council agrees to write to the LGA outlining its support of the LGA’s position and that the letter be copied to the CCN and the Devon MP’s.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and subsequently thereafter also CARRIED as the substantive motion.