Thread by @josiahmortimer

Grounds for denying someone who *has* ID from voting this May include: polling staff deeming "the photograph was not a good likeness," believing the ID to be a forgery, and saying "the elector failed to answer the prescribed questions satisfactorily" What could possibly go wrong?

There will be a new member of staff in *every* polling station whose role is specifically to check people's ID. At enormous cost to all of us. Imagine if we'd spent those millions on boosting voter registration or turnout?

Just some of the steps polling station staff will have to take before handing ANY voter their ballot paper in England this May. I thought the government liked 'cutting red tape'? #voterID

It worries me that "it appears to be forged" could be used against any voter by any polling clerk, no matter how valid the voter ID actually is

Well this isn't going to be farcical at all: "The Presiding Officer may have contact details for female members of staff...who will be authorised to check photographic ID, and who will be on call to attend polling stations at short notice" when a female staffer is requested

"If the elector is required to remove a face covering to carry out the check in private, you should offer them the use of a mirror to check that their face covering is in place before leaving the private area" - this is where the millions in spend on mirrors for voter ID comes in

I do not envy Presiding Officers at this May's local elections in England

Official guidance: "Even if an elector has an accepted form of photographic ID, the Presiding Officer can and should still use the prescribed questions…if they have any doubts relating to the entry on the register of electors...[their] decision is final"

If your electoral roll name varies substantially from your ID, don't worry - you can come back with your birth certificate

OK, this seems to invalidate the supposed security of mandatory ID entirely? Electors can apply for a proxy "up to 5pm on polling day when their ID is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged" or "where they have sent away or applied for ID that has not been received in time"

It's likely we won't get a full picture of how many people are turned away for a lack of photo ID this May - there will be ID posters on the approach to the polling station, and tellers can remind people before they go in. Many could just turn around and go home

There is no ability to appeal against Presiding Officers' decision to refuse to issue you with a ballot paper on grounds relating to voter ID