Agenda item
MOTION ON NOTICE - VOTER ID PILOTS
To consider the motion to be proposed by Councillor Jack O’Dwyer-Henry. Seconded by Councillors Erica Lewis, Jason Wood.
“This Council notes that:
· Of the 44.6 million votes cast in UK elections in 2017, there was just one conviction resulting from the 28 allegations of in-person voter fraud.
· After the May 2018 Voter ID pilots, the Electoral Reform Society concluded that the introduction of Voter ID is “a sledge hammer to crack a nut”.
· In 2018, Electoral Commission research found that about 7.5% of the electorate do not have access to any form of photo ID.
· That young people, older people, people with disabilities, trans people, BAME communities and the homeless would especially be negatively impacted by a requirement to produce photo ID to cast a vote.
· Over 1,100 people have been denied a vote in local government elections due to the 2018 and 2019 Voter ID pilots.
This Council believes that introducing mandatory Voter ID would undermine our democracy.
Therefore, this Council resolves to not participate in any Voter ID pilots for any elections in our District.
And this Council further resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Cabinet Office to express this Council’s opposition to the introduction of mandatory Voter ID in any UK elections.”
An officer briefing note is attached.
Minutes:
The following motion of which notice had been given to the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15 was moved by Councillor O’Dwyer-Henry and seconded by Councillor Lewis:-
“This Council notes that:
· Of the 44.6 million votes cast in UK elections in 2017, there was just one conviction resulting from the 28 allegations of in-person voter fraud.
· After the May 2018 Voter ID pilots, the Electoral Reform Society concluded that the introduction of Voter ID is “a sledge hammer to crack a nut”.
· In 2018, Electoral Commission research found that about 7.5% of the electorate do not have access to any form of photo ID.
· That young people, older people, people with disabilities, trans people, BAME communities and the homeless would especially be negatively impacted by a requirement to produce photo ID to cast a vote.
· Over 1,100 people have been denied a vote in local government elections due to the 2018 and 2019 Voter ID pilots.
This Council believes that introducing mandatory Voter ID would undermine our democracy.
Therefore, this Council resolves to not participate in any Voter ID pilots for any elections in our District.
And this Council further resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Cabinet Office to express this Council’s opposition to the introduction of mandatory Voter ID in any UK elections.”
Background information was supplied in an officer briefing note which had been published with the agenda.
There were no questions to the proposer of the motion. Debate was underway when Councillor Barber proposed an amendment to the motion “that Lancaster District be put forward as an ideal place for a pilot scheme for Voter ID”. Councillor Black raised a point of order, informing the Mayor that the effect of Councillor Barber’s wording was to negate the motion and could not be accepted as a valid amendment. The Mayor confirmed this was the case, and Councillor Barber withdrew the wording.
There was further debate. Councillor Dennison then proposed an amendment:
“That anyone entitled to vote who does not have identification should be supplied with it by the government.”
Councillor Guilding seconded the amendment, however, the Deputy Monitoring Officer queried whether this was being proposed to replace the motion (opposing the introduction of mandatory ID), or as an addition to the motion (in which case it would appear to be a wrecking amendment, lacking relevance to the course of action proposed by the motion). Councillor Dennison confirmed that his wording was intended as an addition to the motion, not a replacement. After receiving advice from the Deputy Monitoring Officer, the Mayor ruled that Councillor Dennison’s amendment was not relevant to the motion, as required by Council procedure rule 17.6 (a), and Councillor Dennison withdrew it.
Debate was concluded, a vote was taken and the motion was clearly carried.
Resolved:-
This Council notes that:
· Of the 44.6 million votes cast in UK elections in 2017, there was just one conviction resulting from the 28 allegations of in-person voter fraud.
· After the May 2018 Voter ID pilots, the Electoral Reform Society concluded that the introduction of Voter ID is “a sledge hammer to crack a nut”.
· In 2018, Electoral Commission research found that about 7.5% of the electorate do not have access to any form of photo ID.
· That young people, older people, people with disabilities, trans people, BAME communities and the homeless would especially be negatively impacted by a requirement to produce photo ID to cast a vote.
· Over 1,100 people have been denied a vote in local government elections due to the 2018 and 2019 Voter ID pilots.
This Council believes that introducing mandatory Voter ID would undermine our democracy.
Therefore, this Council resolves to not participate in any Voter ID pilots for any elections in our District.
And this Council further resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Cabinet Office to express this Council’s opposition to the introduction of mandatory Voter ID in any UK elections.
Supporting documents: