Council                                                   Agenda Item 87

Date of meeting: 2 February 2023

LABOUR GROUP AMENDMENT

Voter ID

That the relevant changes are made to the recommendations as shown below in strikethrough and bold italics:

This council notes:

1. The local elections in May 2023 will take place requiring Voter ID for the first time

2. That these plans have been criticised by experts such as the Association of Election Administrators, the Electoral Reform Society and the Local Government Association [1] [2]

3. That even the Electoral Commission, the official watchdog who will oversee the rollout of Voter ID, has said the timetable could affect people’s ability to vote in May, warning of a risk of confusion, valid voters being turned away, and wider confidence in elections being damaged

4. That evidence of electoral fraud is low, with no voters being prosecuted in 2021 and four in 2019, but that the number of people who will potentially be disenfranchised by the need for ID is much larger [3]

5. That millions of people in the UK lack photo ID, in particular those on low incomes and Black Asian and Minority Ethnic people.

6. That government’s own data shows that 6% of people say they’ll be less likely to vote under these plans, which equates to around 3,000 voters per parliamentary constituency

7. That there remains significant cross-party opposition to these plans. In December 2022 the chairman of the Local Government Association called for the plans to be delayed.

8. The Leader of the Council has written to Government regarding Voter ID requesting a delay to its introduction

9. The Government have been pressured to establish an independent review into the impact of voter ID on turnout in the May 2023 local elections so that the policy can be scrapped if there is evidence that eligible voters have been denied their right to vote

10. That calculations suggest [link] that the government’s Voter ID plans will cost around £40m extra in government spending over a decade, representing wasteful use of taxpayers’ money

11. That a clear communications plan has been produced by the City Council to notify residents of the changes as much as possible including information on web, social media and by letter

12. These plans are being introduced too late with little time for voters to be informed of the need for ID

Therefore, resolves to:

13. Reaffirm our opposition to Voter ID following  a  Notice of Motion  carried by Council in 2019[4]

14. Request officers to consider a further briefing for all councillors with information they can share to help residents understand which types of ID will be accepted and how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate and with more details on the council’s planned communications

Proposed by: Cllr Sankey                                           Seconded by: Cllr Appich

Recommendations to read if carried:

This council notes:

1. The local elections in May 2023 will take place requiring Voter ID for the first time

2. That these plans have been criticised by experts such as the Association of Election Administrators, the Electoral Reform Society and the Local Government Association [1] [2]

3. That even the Electoral Commission, the official watchdog who will oversee the rollout of Voter ID, has said the timetable could affect people’s ability to vote in May, warning of a risk of confusion, valid voters being turned away, and wider confidence in elections being damaged

4. That evidence of electoral fraud is low, with no voters being prosecuted in 2021 and four in 2019, but that the number of people who will potentially be disenfranchised by the need for ID is much larger [3]

5. That millions of people in the UK lack photo ID, in particular those on low incomes and Black Asian and Minority Ethnic people.

6. That government’s own data shows that 6% of people say they’ll be less likely to vote under these plans, which equates to around 3,000 voters per parliamentary constituency

7. That there remains significant cross-party opposition to these plans. In December 2022 the chairman of the Local Government Association called for the plans to be delayed.

8. The Leader of the Council has written to Government regarding Voter ID requesting a delay to its introduction

9. The Government have been pressured to establish an independent review into the impact of voter ID on turnout in the May 2023 local elections so that the policy can be scrapped if there is evidence that eligible voters have been denied their right to vote

10. That calculations suggest [link] that the government’s Voter ID plans will cost around £40m extra in government spending over a decade, representing wasteful use of taxpayers’ money

11. That a clear communications plan has been produced by the City Council to notify residents of the changes as much as possible including information on web, social media and by letter

12. These plans are being introduced too late with little time for voters to be informed of the need for ID

Therefore, resolves to:

13. Reaffirm our opposition to Voter ID following a Notice of Motion  carried by Council in 2019[4]

14. Request officers to consider a further briefing for all councillors with information they can share to help residents understand which types of ID will be accepted and how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate and with more details on the council’s planned communications