Voter ID or no voter ID? That is the electoral question

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson denies there will be a snap election, just a week or so after both the MP for Bristol West, Thangam Debonnaire, and the Green candidate for the same constituency, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, were out campaigning, I am fully expectant of being asked to vote soon.

However, this time around, I will need voter ID — or will I? The Elections Act, which received Royal Assent on 28 April, introduces a requirement to show photographic identification when voting in person at polling stations.

The text to the Act goes on to state: “The new voter identification requirement will be rolled out through secondary legislation” but “government research shows 98% of electors already have an accepted form of identification, and those who do not can apply for a free Voter Card from their local council.”

I contacted my local council as soon as this act was approved. They confirmed that secondary legislation will need to be enacted and told me to ask the relevant government department.

So I did.

The spokesperson for the Levelling Up Department told me that they don’t know yet about timings but any secondary legislation will be put forward in due course.

So the mystery continues.

If there is a snap election called, will we need voter ID and will the council be able to provide it in time?