Call to scrap UK voter ID requirements

Mr Hepburn highlighted evidence from the Electoral Commission that the new requirements kept potential voters away from the ballot box at the recent general election, and fears misunderstanding around the need for ID could have a similar impact in Scotland.

In a letter to Rushanara Ali MP, parliamentary under secretary of state (housing, communities and local government), he asked for the UK government to consider scrapping voter ID requirements.

He writes: “The Electoral Commission’s recent report on voter ID at the 2024 General Election raised several issues of concern. Of particular note is the finding that four per cent of people who said they did not vote at the election stated their decision was related to the voter ID requirement. This confirms the view expressed by the Scottish government, and others at the time of the changes, that it did indeed discourage some people from voting.

“The commission also noted that of the people who tried to vote at a polling station, 0.08 per cent were not able to because of the ID requirement. Although these numbers are small, anyone losing a vote is of concern, and furthermore no one knows how many did not vote due to not having relevant ID, or not knowing if they did. Tellingly, turnout on 4th July was 59.8 per cent; down from 67.3 per cent in 2019.  

“You will be aware that the Scottish government has not introduced voter ID for Scottish Parliament and local government elections. We remain strongly opposed to it and concerned about its impact on democracy by creating an unnecessary barrier to voting and disenfranchising some of our citizens. Furthermore, we are left with a concern that if voters in the Scottish Parliament election in May 2026 have the impression that voter ID is required for that election (even though it is not), they may be discouraged from voting. I have raised that concern directly with the Electoral Commission and I hope they will be able to mitigate it to some extent with their public awareness campaigns in the run up to the 2026 election.”