The first elections with voter ID were 'well run', but some people have not been able to vote because of the new law, the Electoral Commission has said. The independent organisation which oversees elections across the country has said it will now be looking at how the new policy has worked in practice.
But one Manchester councillor has called for new voter ID law to be scrapped. It comes after voting closes in the first year that people have been required to present photo identification at polling stations in all local elections in England.
The Electoral Commission thanked staff who have 'worked hard' to prepare for the implementation of the new measure. But the orgnisation said that the new ID requirement 'posed a greater challenge for some groups' and that some people were 'regrettably' unable to vote today (May 4) as a result.
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In a statement published after polls closed at 10pm, an Electoral Commission spokesperson said: "These were the first set of polls to take place since the voter ID requirement came into force. Our initial assessment is that overall, the elections were well run.
"Across the country, votes were cast throughout the day and in line with the law. This is in large part thanks to the dedication of electoral administrators, who have worked hard to prepare for today and for the implementation of this new measure.
“Confidence in the overall picture, however, should not overlook other impacts which can only be revealed through detailed data collection and analysis over the coming weeks. We already know from our research that the ID requirement posed a greater challenge for some groups in society, and that some people were regrettably unable to vote today as a result.
"It will be essential to understand the extent of this impact, and the reasons behind it, before a final view can be taken on how the policy has worked in practice and what can be learnt for future elections. The Commission has already started this work.
"We are collecting data from polling stations about the numbers turned away and returning, and carrying out national public opinion research to collect data about voters’ experiences. Given the fundamental role played by electoral administrators, it will also be vital that we hear from them about their experiences of the day, as well as other participants in the elections, including candidates."
Responding to the Commission's statement on social media, Manchester councillor Pat Karney said that the council will contribute to a review. The Labour councillor said: "One person turned away is a denial of democratic rights. Only the hard work of election staff prevented lots of problems. The new law was badly thought out and hugely expensive. It should be scrapped."
The Electoral Commission is an independent agency which regulates party and election finance and sets standards for how elections should be run. The government has previously said that it wants to 'ensure maximum participation in elections while protecting the integrity of the ballot box'.
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