11th January 2023
Elections underpin democracy.
Free honest and secure voting is a vital pillar of democracy.
Background
Voters will be required to show an approved form of photographic identification before collecting their ballot paper to vote at a polling station for UK Parliamentary elections in Great Britain, at local elections in England, and at Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.
The Elections Bill delivers the government’s manifesto commitment to improve the integrity and security of elections held in the UK. The Bill received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022.
Elections Bill 2021: Summary factsheet - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/elections-bill-2021-summary-factsheet/elections-bill-2021-summary-factsheet
Elections Act 2022 - https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3020
How much Voter ID Fraud occurs ?
The truth is, we just don’t know.
Like most fraud, the majority is not identified
Even when it is identified it often isn’t acknowledged or publicized. That would be admitting failure, something most people and most organisations rarely want to admit.
Why ? Because it shows failure, it shows weakness, maybe it even encourages additional fraud attempts.
So, although the publicized amount of voter fraud seems to be quite small, a lot more voter fraud may be taking place and not detected or not reported.
How much BANKING Fraud is acceptable ?
So most people (adults) in the UK have some sort of bank account or other banking service.
How much fraud is acceptable in a banking organisation ? What unit of measurement would we use ? Number of customers defrauded v total number of customers ? Amount of money defrauded v total assets of the organisation ?
How much banking fraud is an individual willing to accept ?
You can be pretty sure that the answer to that question is different if it is your bank but not you personally that is subject to banking fraud or if YOU personally are defrauded.
However, most people would expect and hope for ZERO Banking Fraud.
What about collection of Parcels ?
When you have to collect a parcel from your local parcel depot, you have to take ID with you to prove who you are before the parcel is released to you. I have had a few people say that THEY have collected a parcel without ID. That may be true, but I suspect not.
I have never been able to collect a parcel from a parcel depot without showing ID.
I think that’s right and fair, I know no-one is going to collect my parcel.
Why should it be any different for election fraud ?
Why should people be allowed to turn up at a voting centre, say a name and address, and be allowed to vote, without proving that its the actual person making the vote ?
You don’t even need to take a voting card in parts of the UK, eg England
How can that be secure ?
Safeguards
Some people are worried that parts of the electorate will be disenfranchised because they don’t have the required Voter ID already, and can’t or won’t obtain it.
The government have committed, via local Authority’s to providing FREE ID suitable for voting to EVERYONE who doesn’t already have documentation to allow them to vote in the future.
Here’s the link to the Government’s frequently asked questions on Voter Id.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/voter-identification-faqs
And some further Government information about valid forms of ID.
Of course, if people don’t want to vote, that’s their choice, or if they need ID but can’t be bothered to apply for the FREE ID available through Local Authority’s then that’s their choice. People are allowed not to vote.
However, its wrong and politically motivated to claim that people will be disenfranchised from voting if Voter ID is implemented.
No one can be disenfranchised if voter id is FREE.
There is a cost in implementing this, but free honest democracy with secure and non-fraudulent voting is worth the cost.
Isn’t it ?
After all …
Nothing to hide.
Nothing to fear.
If you DON’T support the introduction of voter ID, then you DO support Voter Fraud.
And that can only be for political gain.
Let’s have VOTER ID NOW !
Thanks for reading.
Graham
Twitter : @apple_shwn
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