Lords to investigate voter ID

The session will take place on Wednesday 8 November at 10:15am and can be followed on Parliament TV. 

Giving evidence at 10:15am will be:  

• Craig Westwood, Director of Communications, Policy and Research, Electoral Commission  
• Tom Hawthorn, Head of Policy, Electoral Commission.

Giving evidence at approximately 11:45am will be: 

• Peter Stanyon, Chief Executive, Association of Electoral Administrators.

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• What steps need to be taken to raise awareness of the voter ID requirement and the existence of the Voter Authority Certificate? 
  
  
• What impact will voter ID have on turnout at the next general election and how might this vary for different demographics? 
  
  
• What impact will voter ID have on the administration of the next general election? How will this differ from the impact on local elections and parliamentary by-elections? 
  
  
• What impact has the new policy had on local authorities’ ability to recruit and retain polling staff and election administrators and how is this likely to impact the next general election? 
  
  
• Where has the cost burden of the voter ID requirement typically fallen? 
  
  
• How would an expanded list of accepted forms of ID help improve accessibility for voters? 
  
  
• What is the likely cumulative impact of changes to the voting system arising from the Election Act 2022 on the ability of election staff and suppliers to conduct the next general election? 
  
  
• Did any issues arise in the application and issuing processes for Voter Authority Certificates at the May 2023 local elections? 
  
  
• Has data collection on the impact of voter ID been adequate? If not, how can it be improved?