The motion, which opposes Tory government plans for people to show photo ID in order to vote in general elections, passed last night with 28 votes for and 22 against.
The ID plans were announced in the Queen’s Speech back in May, and have been criticised by the Electoral Reform Society, who estimate the plans will cost up to £20m per general election, and could see 3.5 million people without ID unable to vote.
The motion commits the Council to request the Leader and Chief Executive write to the Cabinet Office, and to local MPs Ben Everitt and Iain Stewart, expressing the Council’s opposition to these plans.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Crooks, who proposed the motion, described the plans as “totally undemocratic, unprincipled and unfair”.
“The government’s voter ID plans will disadvantage some of the most vulnerable members of our society. To force people to show ID in order to vote is totally undemocratic, unprincipled and unfair, and will make it that much harder to vote.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Trendall seconded the motion: “Democracy should be accessible; these plans are only putting barriers up. I’m proud of the Progressive Alliance for standing up for democracy.”
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