Voters from across parties tend to approve
This year’s local elections will be the first to require voters to provide photographic evidence in order to cast their ballot. While opponents have described the move as “discriminatory” and “unnecessary”, a new YouGov study finds that most Britons support the change.
Six in ten (63%) back requiring photo identification in order to vote, with 28% opposed. Fully eight in ten 2019 Conservative voters (82%) approve of the move, while Labour are split 50% in favour to 43% opposed.
At the time the survey was conducted – 11-12 April – 76% of Britons were aware of the incoming changes.
The deadline to apply for a voter authority certificate – a document voters require in order to vote in the absence of other photo ID – passed yesterday, with over 80,000 people reportedly having submitted applications.
At the time our poll was conducted, just 5% of adult Britons said they lacked any of the forms of photo identification required in order to vote. This is roughly in line with the government’s own estimate that 2.1 million people lack appropriate ID.
Photo: Getty
