Nearly 119,000 signatures handed to No 10 calling for voter ID u-turn

Author:
Jon Narcross, former Communications Officer

Posted on the 21st April 2023

Campaign groups handed in nearly 119,000 petition signatures to 10 Downing Street this week, calling for the government to think again, and scrap its dangerous plans for voter ID.

The petition delivery took place as concerns grow about the impact of Voter ID in May’s elections which are less than two weeks away.

The Electoral Reform Society, Unlock Democracy and Open Britain all joined together to oppose the voter ID plans, which could see more than two million people who lack photo ID locked out of the ballot box.

The campaign against voter ID has attracted much attention in recent weeks with writer Armando Iannucci tweeting his support as campaigners were joined by parliamentarians from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party outside Downing Street.

Speaking in support of the campaign Ianucci, said: “This is an expensive, unnecessary, and democratically damaging move.  It discriminates against the young and disadvantaged.  How can the Government on one hand say they want more people to take part in the democratic process and then put this additional barrier in the way? This is nothing more than voter suppression by stealth.”

The majority of the 118,759 signatures came from the ERS’ own petition which has seen thousands of you call on the Government to scrap these new ID laws.

With less than two weeks to go until the local elections, concerns are growing that many voters will be turned away from the polling station. Awareness of the new rules are still too low and with only around 70,000 applications for the free Voter Authority Certificate it’s clear that on May 4, millions will still lack the required ID to cast a vote.

We’ll keep raising awareness of these damaging new rules and leading the campaign to scrap voter ID.

Add your name to say no to voter ID

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