Rishi Sunak and other high-profile Conservatives could keep their seats because of voter ID confusion in the next general election, a new poll suggests.
The government passed legislation in 2022 requiring Britons to show photo ID despite warnings it would prevent thousands from voting.
The new rules came into force last year – with a choice of one of 22 forms of ID in order to vote – but resulted in 14,000 individuals being turned away from polling booths in the 2023 local elections.
While recent surveys suggest the Tories could win fewer than 100 seats in the general election, campaigning organisation Best for Britain said the lack of awareness about voter ID laws could prove “decisive” in some MPs keeping their constituencies.
The group’s chief executive Naomi Smith said: “While polls suggest it won’t be enough to change the result of the next general election, the introduction of unnecessary photo ID could be the difference between victory and defeat for high profile Conservatives in marginal constituencies.”
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From 2023: Voter’s ID ‘wasn’t accepted’
According to a March survey on behalf of Best for Britain, the Conservative Party is projected to win 98 seats based on current polling, with the prime minister, Jeremy Hunt and Liz Truss set to see majorities in their constituencies cut to less than 5%.
However the poll, which surveyed 15,000 people, showed that 16% of respondents did not know they would need ID to vote.
If that figure was repeated nationwide, the campaign group said that around five million Britons would be turned away from polling booths.
Best for Britain also projected that around 1.85 million people in marginal seats do not know about voter ID rules, including around 9,800 people in Mr Sunak’s constituency – which will be Richmond and Northallerton in North Yorkshire as of the next election.
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Best for Britain said a survey found that 16% of people did not know they would need ID to vote. Pic: PA
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said it would “work closely with local authorities and other partners to raise awareness” about voter ID requirements.
A spokesperson added: “As recommended by international election watchdogs, we introduced a requirement to show photographic identification for voting in person across Great Britain, in line with the longstanding arrangements in Northern Ireland.
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“We are committed to ensuring everyone can have their say in our democracy, and the Electoral Commission will continue to conduct public awareness campaigns ahead of each set of relevant polls.
“The vast majority of voters in the polling station – 99.75% – cast their vote successfully at the local elections in England last May.”