Voter ID is a "scandal", says Cotswold District Council Leader Joe Harris

The Liberal Democrat leader of the Cotswold District Council, Cllr Joe Harris, has called the use of voter ID at local elections "a scandal".

Three councils (Cotswold District, Tewkesbury Borough and Forest of Dean District) across Gloucestershire revealed a total of 148 people were turned away as they didn't meet the new voter ID requirement.

Of those rejected, 85 people returned later with valid ID.

Cllr Joe Harris is warning that thousands of people are at risk of "losing" their vote ahead of the next general election.

He says, "We are aware of 49 people (who were turned away) that came into polling stations across the Cotswolds either with out ID or with the wrong ID.

"Of those, 28 returned later with valid ID, that's nearly half of those people who didn't actually comeback and bother voting, so they've been disenfranchised.

"It all plays into this perception that this is being done for political reasons by the Conservative government."

Stamping Out Voter Fraud - Government Minister

In response, Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Kemi Badenoch says, "Our democracy is underpinned by free and fair elections and this government has committed to securing the integrity of those elections for the future."

She added, "Showing photographic identification is a reasonable and proportionate way to confirm that someone is who they say they are when voting, thus stamping out the potential for voter fraud to take place and giving electors the confidence that their vote is theirs and theirs alone."

Why do we now need ID to vote?

In 2022, when the Elections Act was passed, voters in England, Wales, and Scotland were required to provide photo ID in order to vote in general elections

But for those in England, its is also required for local elections, referendums and Police and crime commissioner elections (where it is also required in Wales).

Voters can use passports full and provisional driving licences, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) cards, Blue badges, and some concessionary travel cards.

If you don't have a valid form of ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

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