Britain s photo ID system undermines the democracy it is trying to preserve
Parisa HashempourMay 22, 2021, 19:28 IST
A voter leaves a polling location in the UK.Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
The Queen announced that
elections.
In a country where an estimated quarter of voters lack ID, the move undermines democracy and disproportionately harms marginalized citizens.
With extraordinarily low levels of electoral fraud conviction in the UK, the scheme will fortify the Conservatives stronghold and is an expensive distraction from much-needed social reform.
Parisa Hashempour is a freelance journalist and International Studies lecturer living in the Netherlands.
This is an
opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
The Queen announced that UK citizens will need photo ID to vote in upcoming elections.
In a country where an estimated quarter of voters lack ID, the move undermines democracy and disproportionately harms marginalized citizens.
With extraordinarily low levels of electoral fraud conviction in the UK, the scheme will fortify the Conservatives stronghold and is an expensive distraction from much-needed social reform.
Parisa Hashempour is a freelance journalist and International Studies lecturer living in the Netherlands.
This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.
In the UK two weeks ago, the Queen s speech laid out the British government s plans for post-pandemic reform. Rather than deliver on long-awaited changes to social care, protection for women, or rent reform, the Conservative government announced the implementation of an electoral integrity bill.
Legislators approved the restrictions in a party-line vote late Wednesday.
Iowa Republicans have approved strict limits on who can assist voters in delivering ballots in a surprise change to state election law hours before adjourning the legislative session.
Legislators approved the restrictions in a party-line vote late Wednesday, just weeks after Iowa became one of the first Republican-run states to extensively rewrite election rules to tighten other aspects of voting, including when ballots can be turned in and how voter rolls are maintained.
Republicans said the changes would enhance the security of voting, though have acknowledged that voting fraud is rare in Iowa and the last election had almost no problems. More than 1 million Iowans voted by absentee ballot in November, a record attributed in part to the pandemic and efforts by election officials to encourage voters to cast ballots at home.
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