Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting photo ID

Subscribe To Our Morning Headlines Email For Global News From Our Reporters - Free!

Get Our Free Daily Headlines Email

Boris Johnson got into trouble with a law he created during his time as prime minister. It's been reported that he was denied entry into a polling station because he didn't have a photo ID.

Sky News reported that Mr. Johnson attempted to vote in the South Oxfordshire local elections but was unsuccessful. This happened after he resigned as Prime Minister in 2022, having served for three years.

According to Sky, the staff stationed at the polls denied entry to the former leader of the Conservative Party as he was unable to provide any form of identification.

It has been mandatory to present a document that contains a picture of the voter to verify their identity since the Elections Act of 2022 came into force one year ago.

To stay up-to-date with the local elections and their outcomes, keep tabs on our live blog. Simply click the provided link to access it.

Local elections are happening in 107 governmental bodies across the nation, and there are 2,636 places unavailable to fill.

A representative for Mr. Johnson did not confirm that he forgot to bring his ID. However, it has been reported that later that same Thursday, Mr. Johnson did arrive with some form of identification and was able to vote in favor of the Conservative party.

Back in 2021, the previous UK prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party made a statement, expressing the desire to safeguard democracy, ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the election procedure. The leader also suggested that requiring first-time voters to show a form of identification would be a reasonable request.

People who come to vote at designated places have to provide a document with their photo for identification purposes. These documents could include a passport, a driving license or a blue badge.

There are various types of identification that can be used, such as biometric residency permits, defence ID cards, and national ID cards issued by the European Union (EU), Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.

The ministers stated that the modification was necessary to decrease instances of electoral fraud according to the legislation implemented by Mr. Johnson.

On Thursday, a member of the Conservative Party asked for assistance from people in his area after finding himself without proper identification for voting.

Tom Hunt, who is a Member of Parliament representing Ipswich, requested the assistance of community members to serve as his substitute voter in case of an emergency situation where he couldn't produce the required identification for casting his vote in the nearby local government elections.

Meanwhile, an ex-soldier from the UK army reported being denied entry to a nearby polling booth due to his veteran identification not being deemed valid.

Adam Diver, a 46-year-old who dedicated 27 years of his life serving his country, expressed deep disappointment when informed that his military ID was not considered a valid form of voter identification. He stated that he felt devastated by the news.

The Minister responsible for supporting veterans, Johnny Mercer, expressed regret and reassured social media followers that a form of identification for veterans will be considered in the next election.

A representative from Downing Street expressed that the new veteran card, which was distributed in January, is meant to be incorporated into the official register.

The authorities are exploring the possibility of incorporating this card into the list of eligible voter identifications that also feature military ID cards.

A person responsible for overseeing the police and handling criminal matters in the Thames Valley region is currently being chosen to hold the position in South Oxfordshire.

People in England and Wales have been choosing fresh police and crime commissioners for their localities.

There have been elections held recently to select the mayor of London, members for the London assembly and also for 10 other mayoral positions outside of London.

There's currently a by-election happening in Blackpool South, as the previous Conservative Member of Parliament, Scott Benton, resigned.

The Independent attempted to reach out to the team of Mr. Johnson to obtain a statement.