Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

One in 18 applications for government voter IDs rejected by councils

One in 18 applications for government voter IDs rejected by councils

Some councils are rejecting up to 15 per cent of applications for the new voter authority certificate, an investigation has shown.

The local elections taking place in England on Thursday will require a form of ID to cast a vote for the first time – but one in 18 applications for the government’s free form of voter ID have been rejected.

There are around 2 million people without photographic ID, and of those around 86,000 have applied for the new certificate, research by The Big Issue has found.

However data obtained through Freedom of Information requests found there have been hundreds of rejected applications, with one local authority rejecting more than a quarter of the applications it received.

Tom Brake, a former Liberal Democrat MP who is now director of Unlock Democracy, said: ‘This investigative work confirms that the photo voter ID story is even worse than expected.

‘We already knew the take up of the government’s alternative photo voter ID scheme was appallingly low.

‘Now we also know that for those who did apply, a relatively high percentage have had their applications rejected.

‘With council election results often hanging on a handful of votes, it is unavoidable not only that the introduction of photo voter ID will depress turnout, but also distort election results.’

76 out of the 230 councils holding elections on Thursday responded to FOI requests and provided data on 16,000 applications – about one in six of the total submitted.

Overall, 889 applications, or 5.55%, were rejected, however the rejections were unevenly spread with some councils not rejecting a single application while others rejected around one in six.

Passports are one form of acceptable ID


Issues with photographs, not being registered to vote in the first place, or not submitting their national insurance numbers were the most common reasons for rejection.

However, while a photo ID or certificate is required to vote in person at the local elections, those voting by post or proxy don’t need to provide any ID.

The Electoral Reform Society calls the findings ‘deeply concerning’, with Jess Garland from the group adding: ‘For many voters who lack photographic ID the voter authority certificate is their only route to being able to cast a vote in this week’s elections.

‘To find that the application process has such a high rate of rejection in some areas is deeply concerning.

‘With the government putting so many hurdles up between voters and the ballot box, it’s clear that these new voter ID rules remain a threat to democratic participation and free and fair elections.’

And Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer said it was the government’s responsibility to make sure voters know about changes to ID requirements ahead of the local elections.

Kier Starmer says the onus is on the government to make sure everybody knows about the voter ID rule changes


He told broadcasters: ‘I want every single person who is eligible to vote to be able to vote tomorrow.

‘And if anybody turns up to vote without the ID because the government has not got the message through to them that they have changed the law – a really big change in our election law – then that is an indictment on the government and they bear responsibility.

‘I don’t want to see anybody turning up not knowing that they needed ID, because the government bore full responsibility for making sure that everybody who can vote knows they have got to bring that ID.

‘We will be watching very carefully tomorrow to see where responsibility lies.

‘A government that changes the law on ID has a heavy responsibility to make sure every single person knows that they have got to bring ID.’

The Local Government Association said councils have a responsibility to make sure the introduction of voter ID was done ‘rigorously’.

A spokesman said: ‘Councils are working around the clock to deliver the local elections and the new voter ID requirements, which is the biggest change to in-person voting in 150 years.

‘There are many reasons a voter authority certificate could be rejected and councils assess each application based on the guidance they have been given by the Electoral Commission.

‘As well as this, we are aware that some applications have been made by postal voters who do not require voter ID and so have been withdrawn.

‘It is vital that the implementation of voter ID, including the certificate application process, is rigorously and transparently evaluated to ensure that lessons are learned ahead of future elections.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×