What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Furious voters have been turned away from polling stations because of controversial ID checks.

In Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking, polling station workers are demanding to see ID as part of trial schemes to stop fraudulent voting.

But MPs and councillors have reported seeing voters,, including elderly residents, are being turned away from the polls because they do not have the appropriate documents.

Peter White, a 76-year-old man who has lived in Bromley for 40 years, said he was “shocked” to be turned away because he did not have a bank card or passport.

Voter ID trial What ID is needed to vote in the pilot scheme The acceptable form of ID has been set by the councils - but the government want to trial demanding photo ID as part of the pilot. :: Swindon - Your poll card, or if it has been mislaid, photo ID such as a driving licence or passport :: Watford - Your poll card, or if it has been mislaid, photo ID or a valid debit or credit card :: Woking - Photo ID, such as a driving licence or bus pass :: Bromley - Photo ID or two forms of ID, including one with your address on :: Gosport - Photo ID or two forms of ID, including one with your address on

He told the Independent: “This is a nonsense scheme”.

His wife Kathleen Milward, said she will not be voting out of principle.

“I’m angry because I don’t believe in carrying ID. Having the vote is a basic human right in a democracy, and this is supposed to be a democracy,” the 72-year-old added.

“I’m choosing not to vote, and I’ve never done that before.

"I think people who have problems with their ID will certainly be disenfranchised, even if they’ve lived here for many years.”

Voter Claire McDonald claimed on Twitter: "Have voted today in Bromley where ID was required - older lady arrived while I was there and knew nothing about the requirement to bring ID - no matter how much info you put out it’s not going to reach everyone. Whether she’ll come back, who knows".

Ellie Reeves, Labour MP for Lewisham West, said that two people had been turned away from voting this morning because they did not have ID on them.

(Image: PA)

She tweeted: “Just been to vote. Was informed that two people had already turned up without ID this morning so had been unable to vote.

"Very worrying and backs up all the evidence that the voter ID pilot in Bromley is plain wrong.”

The Government have insisted the trial is needed to crack down on voter fraud.

But Labour have said the plan is a “sledgehammer to crack a nut”.

Figures show there were only 28 cases of alleged voter fraud in the 2017 elections - and none those were in the five places trialing the scheme.

One voter noted on Twitter: "It looks like more legitimate voters have been turned away from polling stations under the government's antidemocratic ID trial than the total number ever known to have voted fraudulently/"

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

The Election Reform Society called the trial “unnecessary and over-bearing”.

Chief Executive Darren Hughes said “potentially hundreds if not thousands of people could be disenfranchised, the full extent of which may never be understood”.



Cat Smith, who is shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs, hit out at ministers for ignoring warnings by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and over 40 leading charities and academics that the trial would have “a disproportionate impact on older people, BME communities, trans people, and disabled people.

“Instead of listening to the experts and the vast evidence base, the Government decided to implement a policy with the full knowledge that voters could be disenfranchised which appears to be what is happening today.

“The fact that voters are being denied their democratic right to take part in our democracy is proof that this ill thought out policy is damaging to our democracy.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “Voter ID is being piloted in a small number of locations. We are working alongside local authorities to take an evidence-based approach on this pilot.

“Local authorities tell all eligible voters that they need to bring ID in these pilot areas.

(Image: PA)

ID can be things like a bus pass, like a driving licence.

The overwhelming majority of people are casting their vote without a problem and I think a great deal of work is being done in these pilot areas to prepare the public there.

“So in places like Bromley, people have had six pieces of direct mail about the pilot and there has been a widespread poster campaign.”

On the outcome of the trial he said: “We will consider the pilots and decide the best way to go forward.”