Eighteen people lost their vote at the recent local elections in Gedling borough after the introduction of voter ID, new figures reveal.
Supporters of the move, such as Tom Randall MP, feel the change creates confidence in the electoral system but others argue it will deprive voters.
The local elections on May 4 were the first that required voters to show a form of photographic identification before being issued with a ballot paper.
The requirement was introduced to solve personation- the electoral crime of pretending to be someone else to use their vote – however, critics have argued that this is very rare.
Gedling’s MP, Tom Randall, said: “Prior to the new voter ID rules, electoral fraud was the easiest fraud to commit.
“You could just walk into any polling station, give someone’s name and address and then cast their vote.
“In a democracy, voters must have confidence in the electoral system.”
The MP added that in the run-up to the elections in the borough, a large majority were aware of this demand.
Ernehale Labour councillor, David Ellis said: “One resident I spoke to had never been abroad, doesn’t drive and is not old enough for a bus pass.
“She didn’t get around to get voter ID or apply for a postal vote and was really annoyed that she lost her chance to vote.
“The numbers may be correct but I suspect a whole lot more didn’t turn up.”
Polling by Omnisis found that 27 percent of the 1216 participants asked felt the need to present photographic ID to vote was unfair.
Based on a combination of turnout from the 2019 elections and data from the local elections they estimate that two million people will be disenfranchised at the next general election.
In Gedling borough 80 residents attempted to vote with ID, of which 62 then return with the correct documents.
Based on turnout figures in the Gedling constituency from the 2019 general election around 200 people would be turned away from polling stations in 2025 if the figures were similar.
Trent Valley Conservative councillor Mike Adams said: “I didn’t speak to anybody who couldn’t vote because of identification.
“The thing that I got asked about the most was that it was so advertised.
“I think it’s like with anything important, you need ID.
“It’s the right move giving more validity to votes and hopefully more people will vote as they know that it is completely their own.”
These figures come after Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mog said earlier this week: “Parties that try and gerrymander end up finding their clever scheme comes back to bite them, as dare I say we found by insisting on voter ID for elections.”
