People arrive to cast their votes in the EU referendum at Islington district of London in United Kingdom on June 23, 2016 (Picture: Getty)

Members of the UK’s trans community are struggling to register ahead of the general election just days before the deadline on Monday, May 22.

Metro.co.uk have spoken to a young trans man who cannot register to vote because his National Insurance number is ‘protected’.

100% unofficial political merchandise to get you through the general election

He – and others in the same position – are being left unable to register and are therefore potentially blocked from voting in the June 8 general election.

The man, who preferred not to be identified, told Metro.co.uk: ‘You register to vote online – or at least I tried. When I put in my details and my new name that I changed a year ago, and when it got to the NI number part of the process every time I entered it, it said “this national insurance number has been protected”.




‘So basically an error kept occurring where I needed to enter a different national insurance number, which I don’t have. When I think about it is funny – because I still get taxed.’

He added: ‘It feels like I’m not a person, it just feels like I’m less than everyone else.

Woman placing ballot in ballot box polling place (Picture: Getty)

‘I would vote Labour, I don’t think many trans people being denied the right to vote would actually vote for the government that implemented this.

Tories to scrap free hot school dinners for children

‘I think it’s disgusting that nothing has been done, we’re all supposed to be equal but we’re not.’

He told us the same NI number issue has happened to friends – and GayStarNews have reported something similar happening to a trans woman in Wiltshire.

Metro.co.uk approached the Electoral Commission, who were already aware of the issue and claim it is to be handled by local authorities.

An Electoral Commission spokesperson told us: ‘It is possible to register to vote without a National Insurance Number and the Electoral Commission provides local authorities with comprehensive guidance that outlines the processes they should follow if an applicant does not supply them with one.’

Conservative manifesto: Theresa May’s key policies for General Election 2017

But, when the young trans guy we chatted with approached his council, he claims they were none the wiser. He said: ‘We’ve contacted our councils too, they just didn’t know what to do. I can’t register because I can’t “prove my identity”, even though I have documents. Because I don’t have a Gender Recognition Certificate it’s not enough.’

A GRC is a document that provides legal recognition of a person’s gender identity.

The GRC is a controversial document which fails to treat each applicant on an individual basis and instead it requires people to meet a specific criteria, which includes being over 18, a professional diagnosis and proving that you have lived in your gender for at least two years.

When registering to vote, the application process allows you to specify if you have changed your name and the reason you may not be able to provide a National Insurance number.



The Electoral Commission spokesperson also told us When a National Insurance Number can’t be provided, an Electoral Registration Officer can use local data to verify the application. Where that is not possible, the ERO will request the person to provide documentary evidence.

If that too fails, they must provide an attestation in support of their application.

People with protected National Insurance numbers – high-profile individuals and victims of crime of often also in the category – can try to register to vote anonymously.

Though this too can prove problematic, as an anonymous application requires evidence to support it – so trans people without a GRC or up to date photo ID may struggle.

The details of your local Electoral Registration Office can be found at yourvotematters.co.uk.