Emergency resolution: Voter identification

Conference notes that new rules on voter identification were used for the first time on 4 May 2023 in the local government elections. On 5 May, the press reported that the chair of the Electoral Commission had acknowledged that voters had faced challenges in exercising their right to vote.

Conference notes that this legislation was introduced despite the negligible number of cases of voting fraud in the UK.

Conference believes this legislation was introduced to suppress voter turnout. It will disproportionately affect young people and students, older people, people in larger urban areas and those from ethnic minorities.

Conference believes this is a cynical and undemocratic step designed to reduce the anti-Tory vote.

Conference instructs the Executive Council to campaign against all similar measures in the future.