The Independent View: British Plan to Force Voter ID Provokes Backlash

The British Government said Tuesday that it would begin rolling out mandatory Identity checks for Voters, prompting a backlash from those who say the move could effectively disenfranchise millions.

The controversy, with strong echoes of one that played out across the United States this year, turns on the question of whether Identity checks are a reasonable tool to combat Electoral fraud or are merely an attempt at Voter Suppression by another name.

Until now, voters in every part of Britain except Northern Ireland have been allowed to vote without presenting an ID.

But that will change under a pilot program announced by Britain’s Conservative Government. A Photo ID, such as a Driver’s license or Passport, will be required in up to 18 different areas across England for Local Elections in 2018.

If the program is successful, it could be expanded Nationwide. Britain is next expected to hold National Elections in 2020.

Voting is “one of the most important transactions you can make as an individual, and in the 21st century many transactions require proof of ID,” Chris Skidmore, the Constitution Minister, told the BBC on Tuesday.

Skidmore denied that the Pilot program targets any “Particular Community” and said the program would help ensure that British citizens can exercise their Democratic rights “regardless of their race or their religion.”

But critics said the program would disproportionately hurt immigrants and poor voters who lack the necessary documents.

Labour Party spokeswoman Cat Smith said that mandating identification “risks denying millions of electors a vote.” She cited data from Britain’s Electoral Commission showing that 3.5 million voters, or about 7.5% of the National total, would not have the necessary photo ID.

Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, compared the plan to using “a sledgehammer to crack a nut.” “There is simply no evidence to suggest that electoral fraud is widespread across the U.K.,” Ghose said in a statement. “Where it has occurred, it has been isolated and should be tackled locally.”

Ghose, whose group campaigns to improve Democratic participation, said that “evidence from the U.S. shows that it’s generally those already most excluded from the political process that are worst affected by strict ID laws.”