There are a number of groups that oppose the new ID laws, which means everyone must show ID at the polls. Photo: Pat Tucson/Alami Stock Photo
Left-wing activists may try to 'derail' local elections as part of voter identification protest, Tories fear.
For the first time in Thursday's elections, people will have to show identification such as passport before they can cast their vote. But some campaigners believe the new rules will make it harder for various marginalized groups to vote.
Craig McKinley, a Conservative MP, wrote to the Electoral Commission that he was concerned that activists would take the opportunity to flood voting booths with «puppet activists» who claim they lack the required identification.
This could «severely skew the assessment of the actual implementation of the new measures», as well as «waste board members' time and disrupt the vote.»
In recent weeks, activists have disrupted major events such as the Grand National and snooker championships.
Thursday's local elections, which are taking place in most of England but not in London, are the biggest test of whether Sir Keir Starmer can become the next prime minister.
The Conservative MP sent a letter to the Electoral Commission saying he feared protests at polling stations similar to those at The Grand National in April 2023. Photo: David Rose
For the first time in Thursday's elections, English voters will need to show a photo ID to get their ballot at the polls in local elections, police and criminal commissioner elections and parliamentary by-elections.
From October the requirements will also apply to any future general election.
Documents that can be used include passports, driver's licenses, senior or disabled bus passes, and an Oyster 60+ cards.
Election day precautions
Mr. McEnlay wrote to the Board of Elections to ask them to take action to ensure that any activity does not interfere with the evaluation of the new measures.
In a letter to its Executive Director, Sean McNally, he said: “There are a number of organizations that oppose new voter identification measures.
«The list of those who oppose is wide and includes Extinction Rebellion and related climate groups who indulge in anarchic behavior with a desire to replace formal elections with 'citizens' assemblies' elected in an unknown way and with the role to do the devil knows what.
The World Snooker Championship was disrupted by activists in April 2023. Voter identification includes anti-government groups, border opening organizations, and pressure groups who want to reunite with the European Union.
«There is a close connection between activists who oppose voter identification for reasons unrelated to the question of themselves.»
«Deliberate bombing»
He asked the Electoral Commission to explain the steps it will take to “prevent activists from deliberately undermining or disrupting the implementation of these measures on May 4th.”
“What steps will the Electoral Commission take to prevent misdirection and distortion of any evaluation process because organized activists falsely claim to have no ID when they go to the polls?
“By definition, claiming no ID of any kind will prevent the collection of a reliable list of the names of those who claim to that he cannot vote; people could even visit multiple polling stations to make the same false claims about alleged disenfranchisement.
“At an organized level, such “puppet activists” can seriously skew the assessment of the actual implementation of the new measures, as well as waste council members' time and disrupt polls.»
Extinction Rebellion told The Telegraph Sunday night that it has no plans to disrupt local elections.
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