Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting identity card

The Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been turned away from a polling station after forgetting to bring a photo identity card, a policy which incidentally introduced during his time in Downing Street as part of the Elections Act 2022.

Penpushing reports that a report by PA News Agency said the former Prime Minister was told by polling station staff that he would not be able to vote without proving his identity, while sources later disclosed that he was later able to vote, and that he voted Conservative.

The Thursday’s election is the first time many voters in England and Wales have had to present identity cards to vote under provisions first rolled out at last year’s local elections, while acceptable identity forms of identity card include a passport, driving licence, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (Pass) cards, Blue Badges, and some concessionary travel cards.

Penpushing further reports that the government in the same vein, explained that it intends to make veterans’ identity cards a valid form of voter identification after former service personnel were turned away from polling stations.

The Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer apologised to those unable to use their veterans’ identity card to vote in the local elections on Thursday, vowing to do all he can to have it added to the list of valid identification.

Penpushing also reports that a number 10 spokeswoman explained that it was the authority intention for the new veteran card, which was rolled out in January, to be added to the official list, stressing that the government is consulting on adding the card to the list of acceptable voter identity cards which already includes armed forces identity cards.

The apology of Mercer came after the 48-year-old  Army veteran Adam Diver who had been looking to place his vote in Fleetwood, Lancashire, but was turned away after presenting his card, lamenting that the experience left him feeling angry

“I felt clearly deflated, I felt gutted to be fair and upset – I felt angry at the point. I felt like my time served was invalidated and I just thought to myself, ‘What was the point in that?’ I’ve served in pretty much every war going; I’ve spent 27 years away from my family’, he said.

Penpushing reports that Diver, who served in the Army for 27 years, said he thought he could use it as an identity card, stating that It’s like a driving licence, and you can’t get any more official stating that it didn’t strike him one bit that it wouldn’t be validated.”

The Labour, however, said the government has had years to ensure the Veteran Card was included on the list of valid voter identity card having begun rolling out the cards in 2019, while Downing Street said it had no wider concerns about the operation of the voter identity requirement, adding that only 0.25 per cent of would-be voters had been turned away from polling stations for lacking the correct documents.

FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or   event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email [email protected]