r/nottheonion • u/MORaHo04 • 29d ago

Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting to bring photo ID

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/02/minister-sorry-as-veterans-find-id-card-not-valid-for-english-elections
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u/765433bikesinbeijing 29d ago

Sorry for m ignorance, but in my country, everyone has always needed a form of id to vote. Carrying ID at all times is actually mandatory by law - it's not enforced but the expectation exists. Why dies it cause hurdles in countries like the US and UK?

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u/MORaHo04 29d ago

You aren’t required in the UK as long as you bring a valid document to the police station within 2 weeks, this voting ID requirement was only introduced 2 years ago.

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u/765433bikesinbeijing 29d ago

Thanks for the perspective. I think it's the same in my country. Technically I think we are required to carry it, but if we bring it later to the station is fine. We always needed ID to vote.

So in the UK, before, you would just say your name in the voting booth or would you have to say your "ID number" (or something like it) as well?