General / Off-Topic Identity checks in polling stations ? The project does not please to the British

Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
The argument put forward by Labour is that by limiting proof of identity to a passport, driving licence or a utility-bill implies a certain income level (as not everyone has either a passport or driving licence and not everyone owns/rents their own property thus paying their own utilities).

Given the allegations of voting fraud in the UK, I'd not be surprised if there was some form of identification required when voting in person. This would not, however, deal with potential voter fraud for postal votes....
 
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[video=youtube;jUhR3ZvRj74]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUhR3ZvRj74[/video]

Voter fraud is such a vanishly small "problem" that it seriously isn't even worth thinking about. Measures like this are however used by governments to try and fix elections the way they want them. It is hardly surprising that May, a woman who has already shown a pretty extreme level of authoritarianism from even before she was PM, would start investingating methods of retaining power.
 
The argument put forward by Labour is that by limiting proof of identity to a passport, driving licence or a utility-bill implies a certain income level (as not everyone has either a passport or driving licence and not everyone owns/rents their own property thus paying their own utilities).

Given the allegations of voting fraud in the UK, I'd not be surprised if there was some form of identification required when voting in person. This would not, however, deal with potential voter fraud for postal votes....

A free ID card ? (as in other countries)

:)
 

Ian Phillips

Volunteer Moderator
Holland requires its citizens to produce an item of officially recognised ID (passport, driving licence, National Id card) when asked by an authorised goverment official - usually the police.

None of these are free, but every dutch person from the age of 14 are required to have one of these on their person at all times.

I cannot see the british standing for that!
 
Holland requires its citizens to produce an item of officially recognised ID (passport, driving licence, National Id card) when asked by an authorised goverment official - usually the police.

None of these are free, but every dutch person from the age of 14 are required to have one of these on their person at all times.

I cannot see the british standing for that!

This is my reaction also. In France, the national Id card is free and valid for 10 years
 
Currently I can stumble to my local voting station (as drunk as a skunk), mumble my name and address at some poor soul who has given their time for the event, and then cast a vote on that person's behalf. If I know that a person is away, I can cast a vote on my behalf and theirs - provided that I leave enough time between the two votes.

I'm okay with voter ID being sought.
 
Holland requires its citizens to produce an item of officially recognised ID (passport, driving licence, National Id card) when asked by an authorised goverment official - usually the police.

None of these are free, but every dutch person from the age of 14 are required to have one of these on their person at all times.

I cannot see the british standing for that!

As a Dutch person I can confirm that. I fail to see how in a modern country there are large groups of people with an income so low you cant get an ID. They dont really have to be ingraved golden tablets or anything.
 
The UK government abandoned the idea of a National ID Card about 8 years ago, even though the vast majority of the population thought it was a great idea.

This means that proving who you are in the UK, to the satisfaction of the Law, is quite tricky. *sighs*

E.g.: Our daughter wanted a passport. She had to provide her birth certificate and those of both of us (her parents) and our marriage certificate before the Passport Office were finally happy that she was actually British. She is pale and ginger and gets radiation burns in sunlight - that should have been proof enough. :D
 
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Currently I can stumble to my local voting station (as drunk as a skunk), mumble my name and address at some poor soul who has given their time for the event, and then cast a vote on that person's behalf. If I know that a person is away, I can cast a vote on my behalf and theirs - provided that I leave enough time between the two votes.

Incredible in a democracy

:eek:
 
All British people should have a unique bar code tattooed on their foreheads, which can be scanned when entering polling stations, as well as more generally to keep track of everybody's movements. I'm surprised Theresa May hasn't suggested this, yet.
 
As a Dutch person I can confirm that. I fail to see how in a modern country there are large groups of people with an income so low you cant get an ID. They dont really have to be ingraved golden tablets or anything.

Germany: 28.8 Euro - cheaper or free if you're on welfare.

Makes all sort of government or law enforcement interaction a breeze.
Oh, and as registered citizen, you're already registered for voting and get an invitational letter with your nearest polling station.

But I guess some countries are proud of their medieval status with the birth certificate as only proof of your existence.

And those guys who refuse any sort of legal ID, because it gives the authorities too much info about you, while having accounts all over the usual social media websites just make me lol. :D
 
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It is funny how the British people have this aversion to ID cards. The last time this was put to the public here, those against it, kept mentioning the war and how this was 'a German thing' and how the British public should not have to have them. Silly really, as you can't do anything without them these days. At the same time, I have never had a UK drivers license or passport.
 
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