Conservatives could suffer big losses at this week's local elections

Conservatives could suffer bigger losses at this week’s local elections because up to two million voters do not have a photo ID, figures suggest

  • When ballots take place in England on Thursday voters will need photo ID 
  • But an estimated 860,000 Tory-supporting voters may not have valid photo ID

The Conservatives could suffer bigger losses in this week’s local elections because up to two million voters are set to be barred over new red tape, a study suggests.

From Thursday, when ballots take place in England, those heading to vote will have to show photo ID at polling stations.

But analysis – based on Office for National Statistics figures, voting intention data and the Government’s own research – estimates as many as 860,000 Tory-supporting voters may not have valid photo ID.

Older voters, who tend to vote Conservative, will be disproportionately affected by this requirement. About a quarter of these (206,422) are aged over 70 and more than half (531,993) are over 50. Data also suggests that 650,000 Labour voters do not have the correct ID.

The Conservatives could suffer bigger losses in this week’s local elections because up to two million voters are set to be barred over new red tape, a study suggests

From Thursday, when ballots take place in England, those heading to vote will have to show photo ID at polling stations. Pictured: A polling station in Kentish Town last year

READ MORE: Tory hopes grow they can avoid meltdown in local elections next Thursday – with Labour ‘needing to win big’ to show Keir Starmer’s bid for No10 is on track

An estimated 28million people are eligible to vote in these elections. Many older voters still have paper driving licences which do not carry a photo. Expired photo ID, such as on a passport, will be accepted but only if it still has ‘a good enough likeness’ to the voter.

Those without qualifying ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate but only about 85,000 people had applied by the closing date last week.

The Conservative Party is expected to lose hundreds of seats in the local elections. Former Cabinet minister David Davis said: ‘If any of my colleagues on the Conservative side think this [policy] is going to be beneficial to them, they should think again. It might well be a political own goal.’ 

But Tory peer Lord Robert Hayward said: ‘There will be places where people say, ‘This has cost me the election, guv’. But it will probably only be in a few places where it actually decides the result.’ A government spokesman said: ‘The vast majority of people already have acceptable ID, which includes concessionary travel passes and Blue Badge parking permit cards for older voters.’

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