They'll subsidise passports for elderly people or less likely, introduce a form of ID only available to elderly people, with others subsidising it through increased prices for passports/driving licences.

This should be the point of the PASS accredited ID system backed by the Home Office and police forces. If supermarkets are refusing that form of ID and driving licences, we need to know why.

Precisely and any sensible person would realise that. The question therefore is why has the government decided to do it? In other countries requiring ID "in order to reduce polling fraud" is used to reduce the chances of legitimate voters from voting.

Why would anyone be discouraged from voting for having to show ID ? banks ask for ID as do many organisations why is it so wrong to ask for ID to cast your vote ?

Depends on what ID is suitable, if you need a full uk driving license and a passport then thats going to make a lot of people not able to vote.

How do you verify someones ID is legit when you're in a shed in the back end of beyond where even daylight has to be shipped in by packmule.

Look at some of the polling stations and imagine getting secure communications to them, our last one was the local athletics club etc.

Depends on what ID is needed, neither my wife or i have passports or driving licence. You only need these if you want to leave the country or drive we dont do either

As PASS is one of the recognised and accepted forms of ID backed by and encouraged for use by Police , Government and Chartered Trading Standards Institute those supermarkets need to answer why they feel they know better than the official organisations wanting their use. And the fact that PASS is run by Retail of Alcohol Standards Group whose members are retailers it is odd that some who are members would be refusing it.

If these supermarkets are saying they cannot be trusted as long as there is no reason to doubt and no one could reasonably doubt their validity then they have a defence in law if it was a forgery.

Which supermarkets are refusing PASS


If they did make it mandatory then the government would have to initiate some form of ID scheme people could get , for free or minimal costs.

The government is making it mandatory in the pilot scheme areas and there is no mention of the government providing free photo ID.

I'd imagine that there was some false cards going around the area that were enough to fool a cashier but they got caught at some point and as such the stores in the area will not trust them.

The ability to print cards is getting cheaper and unless you know the exact security features of one its probably not to hard to get hold of one and some blanks and produce a load for yourself and friends that will easily pass the bored cashiers eye.

If Pickles claims that ID will be "no more than would be required to pick a parcel up at the Post Office" and if it is likely that the appetite for tackling voter fraud will be limited to photo ID, then by that process of deliberation, provisional driving licences and PASS accredited ID will NOT be accepted as valid forms of photo ID - that'll make the forms of ID accepted very limited and costly. Just for clarification, the forms of ID accepted at the Post Office as Pickles claims:

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/collection-services

Labour are right to be concerned.

Have a look at post reply #73 if you have an open mind, you might find it reassuring

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...6&postcount=73

We have made a simple process of registration much more complex. For instance, a newly-married woman who chooses to change her name is now required to provide two forms of identification before being accepted back on to the register.

But the group most affected is students. Previously, universities, like other institutional landlords, could provide a single list of eligible voters to the local authority. Now every student has to register individually. That is not necessarily a priority during freshers’ week. The result is levels of registration plummeting from 100% to less than 10% in most university residences.

One of the reasons given for Individual Voter Registration was to reduce "electoral fraud". Sound familiar?

How does that reduce voter fraud?

I already have, and Pickles refers to ID at the Post Office in relation to his plans, not to the voter ID system implemented in Northern Ireland.

Ah yes the standard labour response carp from the sidelines and offer nothing constructive. Cat Smith was much the same on the News channel earlier.


All plans are capable of being improved. It makes sense for Pickles not to copy the NI scheme just for the pilot but i would suggest if we had a national scheme it would be on the basis of the NI scheme which has the advantage of giving a free ID to all those entitled who want it thus putting an end to this myth that it is another attempt to penalise the poor

But to get this free ID that you would be entitled to have, what ID proof will be needed to get it ?

that information is given in the link I gave earlier, did you read it?

Well there is this bit ( Applications may be made in person at any Area Office where your photograph will be taken for the card free of charge (you will not need to provide identification if you apply in this way, provided you are listed on the electoral register). You will need to provide your National Insurance Number on the form.)

Or a utility bill? Surely, if they are legit they will have something that proves who they are. Why object to something that 'protects' democracy?

You have not read it all.

May I suggest instead of trying to find fault with my post you read the link properly and fully then all your questions should be answered

In the UK it might well most discourage the elderly who may not have current passports or driving licenses.

Young people are actually probably more likely to have photo ID.

The elderly of course vote Tory - so it's a little odd if it's as you claim,

You mean this list A UK, Irish or EEA driving licence (photographic part) (provisional accepted)
A UK, Irish or EU passport (note: EU passports are not accepted at UK Parliamentary elections)
An Electoral Identity Card (issued free of charge)
A Translink Senior SmartPass
A Translink 60+ SmartPass
A Translink War Disabled SmartPass
A Translink Blind Person’s SmartPass.

If you can't work out how to register to vote then I might suggest a degree course may be beyond you!

Why is it your college's job to mollycoddle you and register you to vote? It's a civic duty and is also useful if you apply for bank accounts and credit cards or indeed renting a flat as its a key element of any credit check.

They are adults not kids.

Whats the big deal? Just bring your driving licence or passport. I agree with the government on this one.

I mean


1. Complete the registration/ID application form in full and tick the Electoral ID Card box.
2. Enclose a colour, passport-sized photo with your name and date of birth written on the back.
3. Enclose either one of the forms of photographic identification listed below or a declaration (see below) completed by an MP, MEP, MLA or Councillor:

A UK, Irish, EEA or Commonwealth driving licence (photographic part) (provisional accepted)
A UK, Irish, EU or Commonwealth passport
A National Identity Card
An expired Electoral Identity Card
A Translink Senior SmartPass
A Translink 60+ SmartPass
A Translink War Disabled SmartPass
A Translink Blind Person’s SmartPass
A Disabled Persons Blue Badge issued by the Roads Service
An Application Registration Card issued by the Home Office
A Student Card

The identification document must be original - copies cannot be accepted. We will return your identification document using the same method of postage used to send it to us or you can take your application, photo and identification document to an Area Office.

If you do not have photographic identification to send in with your application, you can ask an MP, MEP, MLA or Councillor to complete the declaration below and send it in with your form.