A by-election for the Isle of Wight Council ward of Wootton Bridge next month will be the first election where voters will be required to show photo ID.
Due to the national introduction of voter ID requirements, registered voters heading to polling stations across the Island will need to take some form of photo ID.
Voters may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable, including the following:
- Passport
- Driving licence (including provisional licence)
- Blue badge
- Certain concessionary travel cards (such as an Older Person’s Bus Pass or an Oyster 60+ card)
- Identity card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) mark
- Biometric Immigration document
- Defence identity card
- Certain national identity cards
Find out what ID is accepted and apply for free voter ID if you need to at http://www.iow.gov.uk/VoterID.
Claire Shand, Returning Officer, has said:
“In order to vote in person, people will need to be registered to vote and to bring appropriate photographic identification with them on the day.
“The need for photo ID is new and we want to make sure that people are aware of the change and prepared, so that the process of voting in the Wootton by-election is as easy as possible.”
The council is currently undertaking its annual canvass of electors. Letters are being sent to local residents reminding them to check their details are up to date.
However, given the time sensitivity to ensure people in Wootton are registered to vote, they should use the government website in the first instance – they do not need to wait for a letter – to ensure they are registered: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Alternatively, voters can call 01983 823380 for support to register.
Claire added:
“For anyone receiving the annual canvass letter; to make sure you are able to have your say at any future elections, simply follow the instructions in your letter. It’s very quick and easy.
“If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the letters or forms we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you information explaining how to do this in the post. Once registered, they would then be able take part in any future elections.”
Another nail in the coffin of democracy. August 1872 was when the first secret ballot in Britain was used to elect a Member of Parliament, allowing people to vote in secret by placing an ‘X’. The Tories have turned back the clock 150 years. Next they will be banning women from voting.
No government should have the power to discover who I voted for. They can now see who I vote for.
They always could. Each ballot paper is numbered and that number is recorded against your name on the register when you collect your ballot paper and go to vote.
Not sure why you should be ashamed of your choice – unless of course you favour Mr Icke, Farage etc.
I won’t be voting, since March 2020 I have now seen what a load of useless
B’stards we have running the country.
Well don’t complain then when the swivel eyed fanatics turn out in droves, win and the country goes from 2nd world to third world.
Shame the candidates never had such stringent hoops to jump through, then we may not have had a rapist chosen.
I won’t be voting. ‘Your papers please’ is not the British way. To the extent that voter fraud exists it is too vanishingly miniscule to justify this flirtation with the totalitarian way of things.
Denying the right to vote by the back door, still I won’t be voting in this or a general election, no point they are all the same, looking out for themselves and sod the rest of us.
Then stand yourself