The Democratic and Electoral Services Manager introduced the report and outlined the risks associated with the implementation of voter identification on the May 2023 local elections. The decision to introduce voter ID was incorporated within the Elections Act 2022, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had announced the intention for voter ID to be in place for the May 2023 local elections. However, the secondary legislation to implement this change was not yet in place, and the Electoral Commission had therefore not produced their guidance for elections planning.

The Council would put the identified mitigations in place, and the Democratic and Electoral Services Team would be reviewed to ensure the most robust structure to deliver the May 2023 elections. There would also be continued lobbying to amend the timetable for the voter identification to be implemented.

In response to questions, the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager clarified that this timescale would not be implemented if the secondary legislation was not passed in November 2022. However, the Council would be legally required to implement voter ID if the secondary legislation was in place.

RESOLVED: That the specific risks to the local elections in May 2023 arising from the implementation of Voter Identification be noted.