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Misinformation on voter ID could stop people even trying to vote

Campaigners say "myths" about the government's voter ID certificate stopped people applying for it

By Anita Mureithi
Person walking past a polling station, UK
From May, voters in England will need to show photo ID before being allowed to vote in local elections
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Misinformation around the new voter ID laws could stop people from taking part in elections, campaigners have warned.

The requirement for photo ID will be in play for the first time at next week’s local elections across England. But a government scheme offering free “voter authority certificates” closed yesterday having received just 85,689 applications – 4.3% of the estimated two million people who don’t have valid photo ID.

There are widespread concerns that voter ID laws could stop marginalised people from voting. Trans, ethnic minority and disabled people were highlighted by MPs on the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) as being among the groups that will be most impacted.

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0