Elections

UK Voters Showed Up Without ID And Were Turned Away – One Voter’s Reaction Shows True Patriotism

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/local-elections-voter-id-check-live-updates-bromley-identification-trial-polling-stations-latest-a8333916.html?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1525343081

John Wellington Digital Content Manager
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For the first time ever, people in the United Kingdom are being denied the ability to vote in local council elections if they are unable to produce a valid form of identification at their polling place, The Independent reports.

The Independent spoke with married couple Peter Whiteland and Kathleen Milward, who both identify as liberals and were denied the ability to vote due to the new rule.

Whiteland, who has lived in Bromley for 40 years, said he was “shocked” he was turned away due to lack of identification.

“I am choosing not to vote, and I have never done that before” the Milward said. “I have been a liberal democrat since about 1970.”

“I think people who have problems with their ID will certainly be disenfranchised, even if they’ve lived here for many years,” Milward continued. “As we know from this last week or two, there are a lot of people out there who are in that situation. And this means I have to make a stand from that point of view too, because I know that they will be either disenfranchised or will not feel happy to come down and vote.”

On the other side of the aisle was a Bromley resident named Mark.

“Historically, anyone could wander in and vote.” he said “Proving who you are – I don’t have a problem with it.”

“I struggle with the argument that some people wont have the right ID because there are so many documents that you can use,” he added. “I think they’ve tried to cover all the bases.”