Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that the introduction of voter identification cards does not affect an individual's civil rights.

Voter ID is part of a body of work this Government is delivering to strengthen the integrity of our electoral system and give the public confidence that our elections are secure and fit for the 21st century.

Electors will be required to show an approved form of photographic ID before casting their vote in a polling station across Great Britain at national UK-wide elections, and at local elections in England.

The list of approved photographic ID will not be limited to passports and driving licences, a broad range of documents already in use will be accepted, including, for example, concessionary travel passes, PASS scheme cards, Ministry of Defence identity cards and photocard parking permits issued as part of the Blue Badge scheme.

Any voter who does not have an approved form of ID will be able to apply, free of charge, for a local elector ID from their local authority.

The provision of local elector ID will be the exception rather than the norm, evidenced by the published evaluations of the pilots:

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/our-views-and-research/our-research/voter-identification-pilots/may-2019-voter-identification-pilot-schemes/our-findings

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819404/2019_Voter_ID_Pilots_Evaluation.pdf