Election ID laws are voter suppression and an attack on the young

It slipped out quietly last month in the brouhaha of the approaching budget.

- Polly Toynbee

The regulations listing acceptable ID documents that will allow people to vote at UK elections were not included in the shameless voter suppression bill that passed through parliament this year. Are you surprised that the list includes all kinds of acceptable ID held by older voters, but that ID the young might have has been struck out? The whole purpose is to make it harder for young people, poor people and those who often move home to vote.

So many outrageous things have happened recently that indignation fatigue is a risk. We grow weary, blase and cynical. But warping the voting system in the right's favour is a permanent harm, copied from the US. First-past-the-post already gives the right a huge electoral advantage, but the Tories want more.

As from next May's local elections, all voters must bring along a piece of specified ID. As the Electoral Reform Society says, the kind of photo ID required is what older people are more likely to have. For example, why is a Transport for London Oyster card for 60+ travellers acceptable, but not a near-identical Oyster 18+ card? Let that stand as the true intention. Voters who don't have a driving licence or passport or various forms of disabled person's ID - all of which are more likely to be held by older people - can apply to their local authority for a free voter ID photo card. How many would do that?