Lord Maxton
Main Page: Lord Maxton (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Maxton's debates with the Cabinet Office
(2 years, 9 months ago)
Lords ChamberYou need to do both. We are trying to make sure that people in the communities that my noble friend Lady Verma has stood up and very bravely spoken about have the opportunity, as well as others, to take up their democratic right to vote. She rightly pointed out that many people may feel more empowered to participate if they feel more secure in the system—that has come out in research done by the Electoral Commission. In 2021, 66% said they would have more confidence in the system if there was voter ID at polling stations.
I am very reluctant to speak, because I have sat through most of this and I did not take part in Second Reading, but if an ID card is presented at the polling station, is that taken as proof that you have voted or are voting? There is a photographic ID card.
If you have the necessary photo ID and your name is on that electoral register—
But surely most countries that the noble Baroness has already said are part and parcel of the extension of this scheme have an ID card.