Voter Identification Requirements

Anne Clarke AM proposed, and Joanne McCartney AM seconded, the following motion:

“The London Assembly notes that the Elections Act 2022 brought in new requirements for voters to present photographic identification to vote in all elections in England as well as UK Parliamentary elections, including by-elections. The local elections in May 2023, which did not take place in London, were the first elections to operate under these new requirements. 

The Assembly also notes that in 2019, there were just 33 allegations of impersonation at polling stations out of 58 million votes cast across all elections that year.

Polling by YouGov from September 2023 found that one-in-four London voters were unaware of the new requirements.

 The London Assembly further notes that Electoral Commission’s report on the May 2023 local elections found that 4% of people did not vote in May 2023 local elections because of the new voter ID requirements. Younger voters (aged between 18-24) and voters from a mixed or Black ethnic background were five times more likely than the general population to be turned away from polling stations because they were unable to present the required.

Overall, the Commission noted that more deprived voters, disabled voters, voters from ethnic minority communities and younger voters were all more likely to face difficulties meeting the new voter ID requirements.

The London elections on 2 May 2024 will be the first elections in London to take place under these new photo ID requirements. 

London has a higher population of some of these at-risk groups, including ethnic minority voters and younger voters.[5] It’s therefore concerning that these groups are likely to face additional barriers when voting in the Mayoral and London Assembly elections on 2 May this year. 

A successful city requires a strong and vibrant democracy. The government should be taking steps to make voting as accessible as possible, rather than creating barriers which disproportionately impact specific groups. 

In order to encourage strong participation at this year’s London election, the London Assembly calls:

• On Government to accept and implement the recommendations from the Electoral Commission’s Report on the May 2023 local elections in England.
• On the Mayor of London to use his communications channels to inform Londoners of the new requirements to provide photographic identification in order to vote and how voters who do not have such documentation can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate free of charge.
• For all communications messaging to raise awareness of voting arrangements in place for both the Mayor and the London Assembly at this election.”

Following debate and upon being put to a vote, the motion was agreed, with 15 votes being cast in favour and 7 votes being cast against.