Recommendation 52

We are concerned that the evidence base for the necessity and effectiveness of voter ID is simply not there. There were extremely low levels of personation prior to the introduction of voter ID, and no evidence that it was being under reported. After the introduction of voter ID, the situation has not changed: there continues to be extremely low levels of personation and no evidence that it is being under reported. What has changed however is that there is clear evidence that the introduction of voter ID has been an additional barrier to voting for a considerable number of people. At the 2024 general election, 16,000 were prevented from voting and the Electoral Commission data indicates that between 770,000 and 1.9 million people were either prevented or discouraged from voting. The Government clearly state that “it is unacceptable when legitimate voters are prevented or discouraged from voting”. As such, under the Government’s own measure, this policy has an ‘unacceptable’ effect. Yet the Government have been clear that removal of the policy is off the table. (Conclusion, Paragraph 146)