FORCING voters to take proof of identity to polling stations risks putting even more people off bothering to vote, the leader of Barnsley Council has warned.
Plans for various English councils to trial a pilot scheme at local elections in 2018 were announced this week in a move the government said would ‘ensure the integrity of the electoral system’.
Coun Sir Steve Houghton, who is chairman of Sheffield City Region as well as leader of Barnsley Council, said he did not think Barnsley would be asked to take part in the scheme but said he was concerned that if brought in nationally it would be a step in the wrong direction.
“People are already turning off from politics, we don’t want to turn them off any more,” Sir Steve told the Chronicle.
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
