By Sam Moorhouse

Voters will be required to show some form of photo ID if they want to fill in their ballots for elections under new Government rules coming into effect this year.

The measure means voters in North West Leicestershire and further afield will have to bring proof of identity if they wish to take part in local elections on Thursday, May 4.

Photo ID will not be required at all elections, but will be required in order to take part in local, police and crime commissioner, and parliamentary by-elections, as well as recall petitions.

From October 2023, the rules will also apply to UK general elections.

There are a range of accepted forms of photo identification that can be used when voting at a polling station, with the full list detailed below. Common forms of photo ID, such as UK passports, driving licences, blue badges and proof of age cards, will all be accepted at polling stations.

Out-of-date or expired photo ID will be permitted when voting, if the image looks like the resident trying to use it. Yet, only original versions of the identification will be accepted, photocopies or images of the ID will not be allowed in order to cast a vote.

In response to the news, a Government spokesperson said: "We cannot be complacent when it comes to ensuring our democracy remains secure. Everyone eligible to vote will have the opportunity to do so, and 98% of electors already have an accepted form of identification. Photo identification has been used in Northern Ireland elections since 2003 and we're working closely with the sector to support the rollout and funding of the necessary equipment and staffing."

Voters who do not have an accepted form of ID can apply for a 'voter authority certificate' on the Government website through an online application form. Voters will also be able to apply by filling out a paper application form and sending it to their local council. Both applications will require the providing of a photo and a national insurance number.

Reaction to the news has been mixed across local political figures. Rhys Brown, Deputy chair of the Leicester Conservatives, said: "We have spoken to lots of people from different communities across Leicester who support bringing more transparency and trust to the electoral system in our city via voter ID.

"People have had enough of questioning their own confidence in our electoral system and the voter ID restores some of that confidence during election time. I am also pleased that the Government will ensure that the minority of people who currently have no identification will be able to get access to a free card via the council."

Yet, this same sentiment was not shared by local representatives from the Labour Party. Liz Kendall, Labour MP for Leicester West, suggested that the scheme was "discriminatory" and a "total waste of taxpayer's money."

She said: "This appalling scheme is set to disenfranchise thousands of people in our city who have the right to vote, with Black and Asian voters, younger and low-income voters and those with disabilities more likely to be affected because they are less likely to have the required photo ID.

"The Conservatives claim this is about electoral fraud. But when you stand in line to vote, you are more likely to be hit by lightning three times than be queuing behind someone who is committing voter fraud.

"The Electoral Commission has itself said the UK has very low levels of electoral fraud, with not a single conviction related to electoral fraud in 2020 or 2021, and 2019. Despite this, the Government is pushing ahead with a scheme that is not only discriminatory but will cost millions of pounds at every election. At a time when my constituents are desperately trying to cope with a cost of living crisis this total waste of taxpayer's money is unforgivable."

Fellow East Midlander, Alex Norris, Labour MP for Nottingham North and Shadow Minister for Elections, agreed and suggested the voter ID plan was "unnecessary". He said: "The rollout of voter ID is a complete shambles and reeks of Government incompetence.

"Not only is the Tory Voter ID plan completely unworkable, it is unnecessary and set to lock millions of people out of voting. The Conservatives have got their priorities all wrong. During a cost of living crisis when people are struggling to make ends meet, it is an outrage that they would rather spend money on disenfranchising them."

The full list of accepted forms of ID:

• Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
• Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
• A Blue Badge
• Older Person's Bus Pass
• Disabled Person's Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person's SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric immigration document
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector's Document