Oral Answers to Questions

Justin Tomlinson Excerpts

Wednesday 8th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con)]

2. What his policy is on proposals to pilot voter identification measures in polling stations.

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

3. What his policy is on proposals to pilot voter identification measures in polling stations.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

5. What his policy is on proposals to pilot voter identification measures in polling stations.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Skidmore]

I entirely agree with my right hon. Friend. When it comes to voting, there cannot be a more important transaction someone can make over five years than to democratically elect their Member of Parliament or councillor. It is right that that process is respected and that, as for so many other transactions in the modern world, we bring it up to date. It is not acceptable for someone simply to turn up at the voting booth, point out their name and claim that as their identity. That does not happen anywhere else. It is time to bring our democracy up to date.

[Justin Tomlinson]

Voter fraud is unacceptable, and I welcome any measure to secure democracy. Swindon Borough Council has repeatedly been commended for good election practice, so will the Minister consider us for future pilots?

[Chris Skidmore]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. We have had a great deal of interest in the pilot process from local authorities. We are currently conducting a review to decide exactly what form those pilots will take—as I said, some will involve photographic ID and some will involve non-photographic ID. We are determined to ensure that interested local authorities can come forward in good time so that they can participate in a pilot project. On Monday, I addressed the Association of Electoral Administrators at its annual conference in Brighton, and I was struck by the fact that more than 50% of electoral administrators supported the introduction of ID in polling stations.