Public Support for Voter ID Unmoved by Controversy
The roll-out of voter ID in 2023 has not come without controversy. In March, UNISON called the move "a threat to our democracy", in the May local elections there were reports of voters being denied access to ballot boxes, and now a damning report has found that it disenfranchised more people than it was intended to protect - whilst disproportionately affecting minority voters. Despite all this, public support for the policy is unmoved.
In April, YouGov asked voters the extent to which they supported the policy. A strong majority, 63%, agreed with voter ID measures with 28% in opposition to it. In light of recent developments, YouGov asked the question again. Levels of support remained unchanged.
Diving deeper into the figures, the proportions of those "strongly supporting" versus "slightly supporting" did change marginally - in favour of strong support. Similarly there was a higher proportion of strong opposition. Though these shifts are marginal, especially when considering the margin for error.
The stable state of public opinion on the matter is perhaps not surprising. As a bureaucratic element of constitutional process, it's hardly at the top of public priorities - especially during a cost of living crisis - and YouGov's question didn't include any factual context. Moreover, although there have been developments since April, arguments against voter ID had already been well made. Whether the first general election with an increased procedural burden could shift perceptions remains to be seen.
