Voter ID
The UK Government plans to introduce requirements for voters in UK Parliamentary elections to show ID before being issued with a ballot paper. This briefing looks at the background to voter ID and the pilot schemes held in 2018 and 2019.

This research paper has been written to inform Members in preparation for the second reading of the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill 2012-13
Electoral Registration and Administration Bill (1 MB, PDF)
The Bill makes provision for the introduction of individual electoral registration by 2015. Transitional arrangements will allow the use of data matching to verify applications to be included on the electoral register and also allow the ‘carry forward’ of electors who are not verified so that they will remain on the first register published under the new system. The annual canvass of electors is retained although powers are given to the Secretary of State to amend, abolish or reinstate it at a later date.
A civil penalty is introduced for those who do not apply to be registered when required to do so by the Electoral Registration Officer.
Other electoral administration measures in the Bill include extending the electoral timetable for Parliamentary elections from 17 to 25 days. The Secretary of State is also given the power to withhold or reduce a Returning Officer’s fee because of poor performance.
A programme motion has been tabled allotting three days for the committee and remaining stages of the Bill on the floor of the House.
Electoral Registration and Administration Bill (1 MB, PDF)
The UK Government plans to introduce requirements for voters in UK Parliamentary elections to show ID before being issued with a ballot paper. This briefing looks at the background to voter ID and the pilot schemes held in 2018 and 2019.
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