Voters risk being turned away from Rutherglen by-election under 'anti-democratic' ID rules

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Voters in a crunch by-election taking place next month risk being turned away because of "anti-democratic" rules on identification.The UK Government passed legislation last year which means a form of photographic ID must be shown at polling stations before a ballot paper is issued.Candidates in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election have today urged voters to ensure they have a correct form of ID in advance or to register for a postal vote before Wednesday.Tory ministers pushed ahead with its controversial Elections Bill despite opposition from both the SNP and Labour.The UK Government claimed new rules were required to clamp down on electoral fraud despite little evidence of it.Scots can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate if they don't have a passport or drivers licence.Katy Loudon, the SNP candidate in Rutherglen, and Labour's Michael Shanks have both urged voters to ensure they are up to speed with the requirements.Loudon said: "I am urging every single voter in Rutherglen and Hamilton West to check if they hold an accepted form of voter ID today, and if they do not, register for a postal vote by Wednesday, September 20 or a Voter Authority Certificate by September 27. "You can check what forms of ID are accepted on South Lanarkshire's Council website or by phoning them on 0303 123 1015."Let’s come together to ensure the Westminster government doesn't achieve its goal of blocking Scottish votes and undermining our democracy.

Even Jacob-Rees Mogg acknowledged that the new voter ID laws are an attempt at gerrymandering."If you register for a postal vote, you don’t need to worry about having voter ID as it is not required to vote by post.