Speech 10 Minute Rule Bill: Representation of the People (Voter Proof of Identity) Bill
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that leave be given to bring a bill “to require those on the electoral register to produce proof of identity at polling stations before voting and for connected purposes.”
The purpose of such a bill is to bring the current electoral rules used in Northern Ireland to elections for the rest of the United Kingdom, to reduce electoral fraud and ensure that our elections continue to be both free and fair.
Current System
Our democratic system, especially the way we vote, is based on trust. The Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights within the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe – who observe elections across the world - have raised concerns about ‘trust based’ electoral systems, their potential to be abused and the vulnerabilities the system has in the UK.
A polling station is a place in which a ballot can be cast in secrecy and free of any external influence – just the individual’s decision for whom to vote. The role of polling station staff is to ensure that voters are able to cast their vote in secret, free from undue influence and in a calm atmosphere.
We have all heard the phrase “vote early and vote often” but it appears that it is increasingly actually happening. In some polling districts, where the population is stable with a high turnout, repeat visitors will be noticed by the staff at the polling station, especially if the staff have worked the same station for a series of local and general elections.
Repeat visits will be far harder to spot and the polling station staff less confident to challenge, where turnout is low and there is a more transient population, because a far greater proportion of voters will be unfamiliar.
As society changes, we have to assess whether our traditional “trust” system of voting needs to change at the risk of becoming outdated and undermined.
Our democracy is a living thing and we have reformed and we have developed over time. Each measure taken by Parliament in the past to improve free and fair voting, such as the Ballot Act in 1872 and the Representation of the People Act in 1918, was made in the interests of the electorate and the interests of democracy.
We are now approaching a time where an improvement must again be made, so that we do not lose the democratic integrity that has evolved over time - and must evolve again.
Electoral Fraud
In recent years, concerns over the integrity of the voting system have been building over a wide range of areas. I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the independent review and report by the Rt Honourable Member for Brentwood and Ongar, the Government’s Anti-Corruption Champion, who concluded that “To retain the integrity of our democracy, we need to introduce more rigour into the processes we use.” His comprehensive report highlights a whole range of concerns and suggested actions to put it right.
No doubt, many colleagues in this place will share those concerns and also be aware of problems in their own constituencies. Due to its very nature, the level of fraud and in particular, personation at polling stations is difficult to gauge but it does not mean it is not happening and does not mean that simple steps should not be taken to stop it from happening.
Electoral abuse was evident on a significant scale in Northern Ireland before the requirement to produce identification was introduced thirty years ago and the situation was further improved in 2003 with the requirement for photo ID.
While I can appreciate that some may have reservations about this deterring people from voting, in Northern Ireland, the numbers of people who do not vote because of the lack of suitable ID is very small.
There is strong case to be made that the use of ID may in fact increase voter turnout, as some people will not vote after losing their polling card, which in fact, they don’t need to bring in order to cast their ballot.
Identification
When we see a problem and contemplate a solution we have to ask ourselves if the cure is worse than the disease – if requiring suitable identification to participate in democracy is too big a hurdle?
If someone buying cigarettes or alcohol was asked for ID we would hardly think it a problem. If you were to pick up a package from the Royal Mail collection office you may think having to show a proof of identity is rather a good thing. We have to prove who we are in so many different circumstances, it can hardly been seen to be a problem when directly participating in something so important as democracy.
One thing that I wish to make very clear, is that this bill is not a move to create an Identity Card or a way to keep checks on people, it is simply a move to add voting to the list of many things that require identification.
But identification does not have to take one single form, for example when we do collect our post from the Post Office, twenty forms of ID are acceptable from a birth certificate to a bank statement or passport.
Presently Northern Ireland offers seven different forms of photo ID, including an Electoral Identity Card. The purpose of requiring an ID is not to create a barrier for people, it is simply to prevent fraud and enhance the integrity of the voting system.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Electoral Commission both recommend the use of ID in voting.
Conclusion
Britain has a formidable history as the Mother of Parliaments, and the Westminster Model of Parliamentary democracy has been adopted by many other nations. If our model falls in to disrepute and fails - it’s bad for democracy the world over. And if we sit back and allow this to happen for fear of change then we are in the wrong.
We cannot and should not sacrifice the integrity of our democratic system. Challenging issues about community cohesion and political engagement must all be taken into account, but they must also never be an ‘excuse’ for failing to act to uphold the rule of law.
To conclude, I move that the Bill be introduced, so that electors are confident in their democratic system; that those entitled to vote may do so; and as in Northern Ireland, we minimise personation and fraud in polling stations in Great Britain.