The elections watchdog warned of a risk of voter fraud last night over Labour plans to allow the public to use bank cards to prove their identity at polling stations.
Angela Rayner yesterday unveiled a ‘seismic’ shake-up of Britain’s voting system which will give 16-year-olds the vote at the next election and make it easier for people to pass identity checks designed to combat fraud.
Existing laws require people to show photographic ID such as a passport or driving licence at the polling station before they can vote.
But Labour’s plan would make the system more ‘accessible’ by allowing people to use a bank card as proof of identity, even though it would not allow polling station staff to confirm a voter’s likeness against a photograph.
The Electoral Commission, which oversees Britain’s voting system, last night said using bank cards ‘has risks for security and voter trust’. Tory spokesman Paul Holmes also warned switching to non-photographic ID could ‘undermine the security of the ballot box’.
Prominent Reform politician Darren Grimes said that voting in an election could become ‘less robust than collecting a parcel from the Post Office’.
During angry exchanges in the Commons yesterday, Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice said the risk of election fraud was already too great.
Mr Tice said there were ‘grave concerns’ about the risk of voter impersonation and told MPs he had witnessed people ‘carrying bag loads of postal votes to a polling station on election day’.
Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday unveiled plans to ‘modernise our democracy’ by widening the franchise to bring national elections in line with those held in Scotland and Wales by allowing 16-year-olds to vote
Under new Labour plans, voters would be able to use a bank card as proof of identity
However, allowing bank cards as ID means that polling station staff will not be able to confirm a voter’s likeness against a photograph
The row came as Ms Rayner confirmed controversial plans to lower the voting age to 16, despite widespread public opposition. A YouGov poll last night found the public oppose the move by a margin of 57 to 32 per cent.
The Deputy Prime Minister brushed aside allegations of ‘gerrymandering’ and said the move would be introduced in time for the next election.
Children will be able to register from the age of 14 and will get the vote at 16, although they will not be permitted to stand for election until the age of 18.
Government sources said changes could be made to the national curriculum to deliver ‘relevant democratic education in schools’. But critics warned the changes could lead to children as young as 14 being targeted by political parties.
Ms Rayner said the change would give young people a ‘stake in the future’ but the Conservatives said the plan was ‘hopelessly confused’. Mr Holmes added: ‘Why do they think a 16-year-old should be able vote, but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket or an alcoholic drink, marry, go to war or even stand in the elections they are voting in?’
Former Tory Cabinet minister Sir James Cleverly accused ministers of rushing forward the plans because of panic about Labour’s collapse in the polls.
But Ms Rayner denied the claim, saying: ‘This is about democracy and giving young people an opportunity to have a say.’
Pollsters suggested lowering the voting age could give Labour less of a boost than it is expecting.
Elections expert Robert Hayward said: ‘There is a real risk it will backfire on Labour. Historically, young people have been perceived as Labour supporters but there are clear polling indications young people do not vote for the two traditional parties.’
Nigel Farage, who has a large following of young people on TikTok, accused Labour of an ‘attempt to rig the political system’, but added: ‘We intend to give them a nasty surprise.’
The new package of reforms also includes plans for automatic voter registration and a tightening of the rules on foreign donations.
