Passport strikes threaten elections: Walkouts mean thousands could miss out on ... trends now
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Thouands of voters could miss out on the chance to vote in May's local elections due to the five-week strike by passport staff, it is feared.
Peers yesterday raised concerns that the walkout, which starts early next month and finishes on May 5, will leave some voters without proof of photo ID.
From May 4, the day when local elections take place in England, all voters will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations.
The new rules will be extended to General Elections from October.
During a House of Lords debate today, peers raised concerns that some voters may be left with no proof of ID if they send their passport to be renewed but don't receive it in time for the local elections due to expected delays caused by the strike.
Passport Office workers are to strike for five weeks in an escalation of a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions (File image)
Summer holidays are also at risk from the five-week walkout, which comes just as the busiest period for applications gets under way.
Lib Dem peer Lord Rennard urged the government to extend the accepted forms of ID to non-photo documents such as utility bills, which are accepted by the Post Office for collecting parcels, to ensure voters don't miss out.
He said: 'The ten-week current delay in passport applications is frustrating for travellers and the five-week strike will cause further
