Voter suppression (UK)

[Buddy Bradley]

Yes, but the principle is the same, no?

Only if those groups most likely to be affected are also heavily weighted towards voting non-Tory, as is the case with those most likely to be disenfranchised by the American stuff are heavily Democrat-leaning. My uninformed guess is that in the UK it's more likely to be about class/wealth than the more racial divide that exists in the US, but I'd love to see some statistics.

 

[brogdale]

Just read this on the trial conducted in the following year:

Five things we have learnt about England’s voter ID trials in the 2019 local elections

The Cabinet Office and Electoral Commission have published their evaluations of the voter ID trials that were held during this May’s local elections. Michela Palese assesses what we have learnt fro…

blogs.lse.ac.uk

Note points 2 and 5 which highlight that the “potential” bad effects will depend on the implementation, specifically how easy the process is for people to obtain the dedicated election photo ID

Well yeah, but you don't need to be Policy Officer for the Electoral Reform Society to know that any barrier will dissuade some from voting.

 

[platinumsage]

Well yeah, but you don't need to be Policy Officer for the Electoral Reform Society to know that any barrier will dissuade some from voting.

The biggest barrier being registration of course, this is tiny in comparison as the trials showed.

 

[brogdale]

The biggest barrier being registration of course, this is tiny in comparison as the trials showed.

Quite, registration alone should be enough without any requirement for further ID barriers.

 

[brogdale]

Here we go...

A Conservative-run council has been accused of potentially shutting vulnerable people out of May’s elections by asking people to show photo ID if they want a postal or proxy vote, even though it is not required by law.

Woking borough council in Surrey says that because voters are only “requested” to provide ID and proof of address, it is not breaching electoral rules.

But rights groups say the tactic could discourage groups of voters who are less likely to have the relevant documents, including older people, people who are homeless, those with disabilities, or people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

 

[brogdale]

Guardian running with new figures evidencing the likely discriminatory effect of the Tories' photo ID for voting legislation:



and in the US the Republican controlled senate in Georgia is proceeding to require ID and 'valid excuse' for requesting PV.



Though we're unlikely to see a similar move against PV from the Tories who derive a substantial chance of their elderly core vote from PV after years of encouraging doorstep support to sign up and 'granny farming' in care settings. It works for them with PV 'turnouts' typically at around 66% when the true-up turnout can be as low as 30%.

 

[NoXion]

There's absolutely no reason that justifies the introduction of voter ID in the UK. Voter impersonation barely exists, and the resources used for issuing and administering voter IDs could be better used elsewhere.

 

[PR1Berske]

The Bill which will introduce Voter ID to the UK has now been published.

You need Schedule 1:

Elections Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament

Current version of Elections Bill with latest news, sponsors, and progress through Houses

bills.parliament.uk

 

[brogdale]

Passed yesterday; the cunts.

 

[teqniq]

please sign and share:

Add your name: We need to scrap the Voter ID rules

It only takes 30 seconds.

action.electoral-reform.org.uk

 

[brogdale]

The scrutiny:

 

[teqniq]

#ToryScum

 

[teqniq]

It would appear from the list in the article that far more forms of I.D. for older people are acceptable that for younger ones:

Voter ID: ‘It’s Far Worse than Any US State’

Josiah Mortimer reports on fresh voter suppression claims facing the Government – including the impact on young people – ahead of a rushed roll-out of mandatory voter ID for next May's local elections

bylinetimes.com

 

[brogdale]

It would appear from the list in the article that far more forms of I.D. for older people are acceptable that for younger ones:

Voter ID: ‘It’s Far Worse than Any US State’

Josiah Mortimer reports on fresh voter suppression claims facing the Government – including the impact on young people – ahead of a rushed roll-out of mandatory voter ID for next May's local elections

bylinetimes.com

Good piece.

 

[teqniq]

I did not know of this, worth sharing:

 

[brogdale]

I did not know of this, worth sharing:

That's exactly how it works, isn't it?
Put in a number of barriers that will dissuade, alienate or just exclude the less organised/determined voter.

 

[brogdale]

Some London numbers estimating the potential degree of suppression arising from the new photo ID requirement.

• six in ten Londoners are unaware they will need to bring photo identification with them to vote in the next elections
• one in ten Londoners do not hold a form of approved photo voter ID as set out in the Conservatives’ new Elections Act
• More than half a million Londoners do not possess a passport
• more than 2.6m Londoners do not have a full driving licence, with women less likely to have one
• 12 per cent of LGBT+ people do not own any usable photo ID, while there are concerns that some trans people might be more likely to be turned away from the ballot box under the new ID law if their ID photo does not match their current appearance.
• Just 30 per cent of Black people in the capital are aware of the new voter ID requirements, adding to fears that the move will lock some communities out of voting
• one in five Londoners aged under 25 say that they do not hold an approved ID.

 

[skyscraper101]

Seems to be fewer options for younger people than older people

 

[magneze]

WTF

 

[brogdale]

Seems to be fewer options for younger people than older people

Well, I never.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I don't bother voting anyway, but if this is now a thing I will roll up at the station with my voter card, not produce id, screw up the card and drop on floor and retreat to the Spoons across from the voting hall.

Sticking it to 'em since 1972

 

[MickiQ]

They piloted it in the seat where my Middle daughter and her husband live a few years back. Apparently there was much humming and hawing over whether his Irish passport counted (after consulting the leaflet it did)

 

[Karl Masks]

Didn't they say lie that they'd provide options through local councils?

 

[ska invita]

I don't bother voting anyway, but if this is now a thing I will roll up at the station with my voter card, not produce id, screw up the card and drop on floor and retreat to the Spoons across from the voting hall.

Sticking it to 'em since 1972

same...in going to go with no ID and kick up a fuss, be outraged for a bit, and not vote - send a signal back

 

[MickiQ]

same...in going to go with no ID and kick up a fuss, be outraged for a bit, and not vote - send a signal back

To whom? other than annoying the volunteers in the polling booth do you imagine it will come to the attention of anyone in power?

 

[ddraig]

To whom? other than annoying the volunteers in the polling booth do you imagine it will come to the attention of anyone in power?

all staff get paid, not that that means they should get abused of course!
But yes the presiding officer and poll staff can and do feed back

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Well, I never.

Good. Serves people right for wanting to participate in such a pile of wank and hand over their power to representatives of the bourgeoisie

 

[NoXion]

Good. Serves people right for wanting to participate in such a pile of wank and hand over their power to representatives of the bourgeoisie

This is effectively the disenfranchisement of significant groups of working class people. Tilting the electoral scales in favour of older and richer voters. That's not something to be celebrated if you're in favour of democracy.

 

[AmateurAgitator]

This is effectively the disenfranchisement of significant groups of working class people. Tilting the electoral scales in favour of older and richer voters. That's not something to be celebrated if you're in favour of democracy.

I'm not in favour of bourgeois democracy (which ensures that working class people are exploited and disenfranchised). I'm in favour of anarchism.

 

[Karl Masks]

I'm not in favour of bourgeois democracy (which ensures that working class people are exploited and disenfranchised). I'm in favour of anarchism.

So losing the right to vote is ok then?

Hello? Is that Sylvia? Yeah it's future anarchist person....look, don't bother