Voter ID chaos alert amid training fears: Red tape around voting rules risks ... trends now
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New red tape around voting rules risks plunging today's local elections into chaos in places – as half of town halls have given polling station staff barely any training.
Research found that one in two councils have given staff less than an hour's training on the rules, while only one in ten councils set aside more than two hours.
The data, based on Freedom of Information requests, last night heightened fears that some voters may be turned away unnecessarily or that large queues could form.
Some 20 forms of ID will be accepted, potentially creating confusion about what is valid. A new Voter Authority Certificate will also be accepted. Expired IDs are allowed, but only if the photo still has a likeness to the holder.
Training for polling station staff can also include how to deal with voters who become angry over being turned away because they don't have ID.
New voter ID rules have been put in place for today's local elections. Pictured: The official website of the Electoral Commission warning people to bring photo ID
Tom Brake, director of Unlock Democracy, said polling staff are being 'thrown under a bus by being placed in the vulnerable position of having to deal with potentially confrontational situations without proper training'. Pictured: Mr Brake
From today, when local elections take place across England, all voters will have to show photo ID to vote. The rules will be extended to general elections from October.
Tory MPs warn that it threatens to lead to bigger losses for the party because older people, who
