Cllr Joe Harris, Leader of the LGA Lib Dem Group, alongside other Liberal Democrat Council Leaders, has written to Secretary of State Michael Gove to raise serious concerns.
Liberal Democrat Council Leaders have warned the government about the risk to next year’s local elections generated by voter ID proposals.
Cllr Joe Harris, Leader of the LGA Lib Dem Group, alongside other Liberal Democrat Council Leaders, has written to Secretary of State Michael Gove to raise serious concerns.
In the letter, Cllr Harris warns:
“The introduction of having to issue the Voter Authority Certificate for those who don’t have other forms of ID will add considerable burden onto Electoral Services Teams at a time when many will be preparing for what is a significant electoral event, namely the local elections in May 2023. Alongside this, it is impossible to know how many applications we will receive and whether the extra resource we have provided will be sufficient for the task”.
He continued:
“We continue to believe that the requirement for voter ID is not necessary and unfair especially on younger people who may not have had the opportunity to acquire ID such as passports or driving licences.
“But we also have problems around the practicality of it. At the time of writing, we have not received details of the “new burden” funding councils will receive to help with the introduction of these regulations. There is therefore a risk that we will not have sufficient resource to meet the full cost – creating further risk to the integrity of the electoral process. There is also concern that the recruitment of staff for polling stations is becoming more difficult and the added responsibility and complexity due to Voter ID may reduce numbers further.
“Should there be any further delay in the introduction of Voter ID, many council teams, through no fault of their own, will struggle to deliver the elections expected of them. The Returning Officer is individually and directly liable for the outcome of elections, and a huge amount is being asked of them professionally and personally. Voters will ultimately be the ones who suffer.
“We would urge Government to delay the introduction of the Voter ID regulations until after May 2023 to allow time for the smooth introduction of the online Voter Authority Certificate system and a public awareness campaign which gives electors time to fully understand how the new rules will affect them. This will also give time for Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and their teams to be fully trained on new systems.
“I fear that not doing so could lead to a situation where some results are legally challenged which would be bad for democracy and could undermine the confidence that the public have in the electoral process.”
ENDS
For more information contact Cllr Joe Harris – joe.harris@local.gov.uk
Note to editors
- Full text of the letter from Cllr Joe Harris
-
From: LGA Liberal Democrat Group Office
Local Government Association
18 Smith Square
London, SW1P 3HZ
joe.harris@local.gov.ukTo: Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Dept of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Fry Building,
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DFDear Secretary of State,
You will be aware that the Voter ID Statutory Instrument, which brings in photographic identification at polling stations, has now been laid and is to come into effect from January 2023. You will know that the Gould Principle recommends electoral legislation should not be introduced within the six months before a scheduled poll. This late introduction therefore brings significant risk to the safe delivery of elections in May 2023.
The introduction of having to issue the Voter Authority Certificate for those who don’t have other forms of ID will add considerable burden onto Electoral Services Teams at a time when many will be preparing for what is a significant electoral event, namely the local elections in May 2023. The ERO Portal will not be live until mid-January, giving little time for training and preparation before the election timetable begins. Alongside this, it is impossible to know how many applications we will receive and whether the extra resource we have provided will be sufficient for the task.
At the time of writing, we have not received details of the new burden funding we will receive to help with the introduction of these regulations. There is therefore a risk that we will not have sufficient resource to meet the full cost – creating further risk to the integrity of the electoral process.
The proposed national awareness campaign is welcomed but the lack of funding for local awareness campaigns is short-sighted, particularly for areas where there are scheduled polls in 2023.
There is also concern that the recruitment of staff for polling stations is becoming more difficult and the added responsibility and complexity due to Voter ID may reduce numbers further.
Should there be any further delay in the introduction of Voter ID, many council teams, through no fault of their own, will struggle to deliver the elections expected of them. As you know, the
Returning Officer is individually and directly liable for the outcome of elections, and a huge amount is being asked of them professionally and personally. Voters will ultimately be the ones who suffer.
We would urge Government to delay the introduction of the Voter ID regulations until after May 2023 to allow time for the smooth introduction of the online Voter Authority Certificate system and a public awareness campaign which gives electors time to fully understand how the new rules will affect them. This will also give time for Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and their teams to be fully trained on new systems.
I fear that not doing so could lead to a situation where some results are legally challenged which would be bad for democracy and could undermine the confidence that the public have in the electoral process.
Yours Sincerely,
Cllr Joe Harris - Leader LGA Liberal Democrat Group and Leader, Cotswold District Council
Also signed by
1. John Boyce, Leader, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
2. Mark Hunter, Leader, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
3. Steve Darling, Torbay Council
4. Virginia Taylor, Leader, Eden District Council
5. Peter Taylor, Mayor of Watford
6. Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford
7. Bill Revans, Leader, Somerset County Council
8. Andy Graham, Leader, West Oxfordshire District Council
9. Bruce Macdonald, Deputy Leader, Elmbridge Borough Council
10. Clive Jones, Leader, Wokingham Council
11. Keith House, Leader, Eastleigh Borough Council
12. Kevin Guy, Leader, Bath and NE Somerset Council
13. Ben Chapelard, Leader, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
14. David King, Leader, Colchester Borough Council
15. Rowena Hay, Leader, Cheltenham Borough Council
16. Steve Carr, Deputy Leader, Broxtowe Borough Council
17. Peter Thornton, Deputy Leader, Cumbria County Council
18. James MacCleary, Leader, Lewes District Council
19. Alan Connett, Leader, Teignbridge District Council
20. Martin Tod, Leader, Winchester City Council
21. David Tutt, Leader, Eastbourne Borough Council
22. Stephen Robinson, Leader, Chelmsford City Council
23. Jonathan Brook, Leader, Westmorland and Furness Council Shadow Authority
24. Mike Bell, Deputy Leader, North Somerset Council
25. Sarah Nelmes, Leader, Three Rivers District Council
26. Keith Aspden, Leader, York City Council
27. Stuart Bray, Leader, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council
28. Liz Leffman, Leader, Oxfordshire County Council
