Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reportedly been denied entry to his local polling station for forgetting his required photo ID.
Johnson, who had joined locals in South Oxfordshire for the police and crime commissioner election, was informed by polling officials that he couldn’t vote without proper identification.
In the UK, there are 22 acceptable forms of ID, including passports, driving licenses, blue badges, and certain local travel cards and Johnson’s incident comes after he introduced the Elections Act in 2022, mandating photo ID, a move heavily criticized by Britons.
Last year, the Electoral Commission warned that the new law could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands, particularly minorities and those with disabilities.
A spokesperson for Johnson confirmed his forgetfulness but mentioned he later returned with valid ID to cast his ballot, reportedly voting Conservative.
Downing Street expressed intentions to reconsider the controversial rules, aiming to include veterans’ ID cards among the valid forms of identification.
Chioma Kalu
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