Politics
Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting ID
Boris Johnson was turned away from his local polling station when trying to vote in the local elections after forgetting to bring an acceptable form of photo identification.
Sky News understands polling station staff were forced to send the former prime minister away after he initially failed to comply with legislation he introduced while he was in Downing Street.
Mr Johnson, who introduced the Elections Act requiring photo ID in 2022, was attempting to cast his ballot in South Oxfordshire, where a police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley was being selected.
Follow live: Tories expecting to lose hundreds of seats in council contests
He posted on X on Thursday morning: “The polls are now open. Vote Conservative today!”
The Elections Act has proved controversial, with fears that it would prove a deterrent to voting, particularly among disadvantaged groups.
In 2023, the Electoral Commission warned the new law, which requires people to show acceptable forms of photo ID when voting in person, could exclude hundreds of thousands of people, including those with disabilities and from minority ethnic backgrounds.
The commission found that in local elections last May, 14,000 people were not able to vote because they did not have acceptable ID.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
What’s at stake in these local elections?
In England, passports, driving licences, blue badges and certain local travel cards are accepted forms of voter ID.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson did not deny he had failed to bring ID, saying only: “Mr Johnson voted Conservative.”
Meanwhile, the government has also said it plans to make veterans’ ID cards a valid form of voter identification after former service personnel were turned away from polling stations.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Vote counting begins in local elections
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer apologised to those who had been unable to use their veterans’ ID card to vote in the local elections, vowing to “do all I can” to have it added to the list of valid identification.
A Number 10 spokeswoman said: “It is our intention for the new Veteran Card, which was rolled out in January, to be added to the official list.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Mr Mercer’s apology came after Army veteran Adam Diver complained he had been turned away from his local polling station after presenting his Veteran Card.
Mr Diver, 48, had been looking to place his vote in Fleetwood, Lancashire, but was turned away after presenting his card, and described the experience as leaving him feeling “gutted”.
Labour said the government has had years to ensure the Veteran Card was included on the list of valid voter ID, having begun rolling out the cards in 2019.