Agenda item

Councillor Wrigley to move:

Voter ID equals Voter Suppression

Devon condemns the introduction of the requirement for Voter Photo ID and will write to the Prime Minister and the MPs in Devon to state our objection.

Evidence for significant identity fraud at elections has not come forward.  At the last count, a single prosecution was taken forward on the matter.

Despite this, Voter Photo ID will be required for anyone wishing to vote in the May 2023 elections.  This 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.

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.

This move by the Conservative government is likely to disenfranchise many Devon residents, and thus suppress the number of residents who should be able to vote.  This is shameful and does not reflect British standards for democracy and respect for our voters.

In accordance with Standing Order 6(6) the Notice of Motion was referred, without discussion, to the Cabinet for consideration.

The Chair advised the Council that this Motion and the one submitted under agenda item 22 by Councillor Bailey covered the same issues, and therefore asked for the consent of the Council to accept the merging of the motions, the new wording being reflected on the order paper.

Councillor Wrigley MOVED and Councillor Dewhirst SECONDED;

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. 

In accordance with Standing Order 6(6) the amended Notice of Motion was referred, without discussion, to the Cabinet for consideration.