European election observers monitoring voting in England on Thursday have recorded instances of voters being turned away from polling stations due to confusion over new photo identification requirements. While the problem is not regarded as widespread, it has been noted by the delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, which will issue a report on the local elections in England as well as the Scottish and Welsh government elections.
Delegation's Observations and Concerns
The 17-member delegation, representing 46 European member states, discussed the potential threat of interference by Russia or other hostile states during talks this week. However, Russian interference is understood not to be considered an issue in these elections. The visit is part of moves to share information among European states.
The delegation will publish a report on Friday that is expected to address issues including the organisation of polling stations, training of staff, access for people with disabilities, and any instances of harassment or interference.
Meetings with UK Officials
Steve Reed, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, met members of the delegation in Westminster on Wednesday. Representatives from the Labour Party and the Green Party also met with the delegation.
The observers, who include politicians from Ireland, Poland, Germany, Moldova and other states, visited voting stations on Thursday. Locations included Gorton and Denton, where in February a UK-based election observer group raised concerns over people appearing to collude on voting in a byelection. Police subsequently concluded an inquiry into alleged “family voting” after finding no evidence of “any intent to influence or refrain any person” from casting a ballot.
Photo ID Requirements Under Scrutiny
The confusion witnessed over photo identification requirements came in London and is understood to relate to the type of official document needed. The Elections Act 2022 introduced the requirement of bringing valid photo ID to vote in some UK elections, including general elections and local elections in England. Accepted forms of ID include a passport or a photo driving licence. Concerns were expressed at the time that the move could lead to the disenfranchisement of some groups who were more likely to lack one or other of the accepted forms of ID.
Separately, a council in Scotland apologised this week after sending out polling cards in envelopes that incorrectly said photo identification would be needed to vote in the Scottish parliament elections. Photo ID rules also do not apply in the Welsh Senedd elections.
Importance of International Observation
Jani Kokko, a member of the Finnish parliament, told the Guardian: “The Congress of the Council of Europe is the only international organisation that observes local and regional elections. This time, observation of this nature is more important than ever because of the increasing threat posed by foreign interference, attempts to undermine democracy, and disinformation. I think this work is really important, not just here in the UK in terms of the recommendations we can make but also in terms of what we can learn from measures being taken here.”
