Cupboard minister says voter ID ‘thoroughly good thing’ regardless of some individuals unable to vote
T
he introduction of voter ID is a “thoroughly good thing”, the Northern Ireland Secretary has stated regardless of the Electoral Commission acknowledging some individuals have been unable to vote because of the brand new requirement.
Chris Heaton-Harris insisted the “big problems” critics warned of didn’t materialise, including: “I think most people have just taken to it as you would expect them to”.
On Thursday, voters throughout England took to the polls to have their say about who runs their native communities and for the primary time, it has been obligatory to point out picture identification when voting.
Passports, driving licences and blue badges are among the many IDs permitted, as are the free certificates that could possibly be utilized for forward of the vote.
However, the transfer has been controversial, with critics of the coverage arguing it will deter younger individuals and ethnic minorities from voting and claiming hundreds of individuals had been turned away.
Shortly after the polls closed, a spokesperson for the Electoral Commission stated “our initial assessment is that overall, the elections were well run” however added “some people were regrettably unable to vote today as a result”.
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday night, Mr Heaton-Harris defended the brand new guidelines, arguing related measures have been in place in Northern Ireland for 20 years.
He stated: “It’s a thoroughly good thing, it means that you can be completely sure that your elections are well tested and safe.
“And I don’t think, actually, considering this is a relatively big change for our politics in England that there’s been any of the big problems that people warned might come from this.
“I think most people have just taken to it as you would expect them to.”
Science minister Paul Scully additionally threw his weight behind the modifications however acknowledged the Government might want to see its affect after the native elections.
Asked in regards to the assertion by the Electoral Commission on the BBC’s Elections 2023 programme, Mr Scully stated: “I think the chief exec of the electoral returning officers has said in his view that it has worked pretty well. It hasn’t had much of an effect.
“But we do need to see. We clearly need to see after this.”
The spokesman for the Electoral Commission stated: “Our initial assessment is that overall, the elections were well run.
“Across the country, votes were cast throughout the day and in line with the law. This is in large part thanks to the dedication of electoral administrators, who have worked hard to prepare for today and for the implementation of this new measure.
“Confidence in the overall picture, however, should not overlook other impacts which can only be revealed through detailed data collection and analysis over the coming weeks.”
“We already know from our research that the ID requirement posed a greater challenge for some groups in society, and that some people were regrettably unable to vote today as a result.
“It will be essential to understand the extent of this impact, and the reasons behind it, before a final view can be taken on how the policy has worked in practice and what can be learnt for future elections.”
It might be important to grasp the extent of this affect, and the explanations behind it, earlier than a last view will be taken on how the coverage has labored in follow and what will be learnt for future elections.
The Commission expects to publish its preliminary evaluation of the implementation of voter ID in June, topic to information being accessible.
The change was piloted regionally earlier than the nationwide roll-out for Thursday’s elections and it’ll come into pressure for UK common elections from October.
The coverage is opposed by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party whereas the Government argues the change is required to scale back electoral fraud.
Tom Brake of Unlock Democracy, who’s main a coalition of teams towards the coverage together with the Electoral Reform Society, stated: “Today has been a dark day for British democracy.
“Reports from all over the country confirm our very worst fears of the impact of the disastrous policy which has been made worse by the shambolic way it has been introduced.”
Meanwhile, the Association of Electoral Administrators’ chief government Peter Stanyon stated there had been “many anecdotal reports” of individuals being unable to vote however “it is still too early to gauge how introducing voter ID has gone”.
On Thursday, greater than 8,000 council seats have been being contested throughout 230 native authorities, whereas mayors have been being chosen in Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough.
No votes have been going down in London and Birmingham, together with different areas together with Cornwall, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.