UNITED KINGDOM A PERILOUS ELECTION: PHOTO ID, STAFF SHORTAGES AND CYBER THREATS

While the general election date itself remains in the hands of Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, one thing is certain: when the campaign does begin it has the potential to be one of the more perilous and chaotic in UK history.

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Sunak could hold the election as late as January 2025, maximising the Conservatives' full fiveyear term. But assuming he opts for a spring or autumn election, as most pundits expect, beyond even the politics there will be a series of new factors at play that are making electoral officials and even government ministers fairly nervous.

It will be the first national election in which voters will have to show photo ID at the polling station, made more tricky in the UK given the lack of national ID cards. Surveys have shown only limited knowledge of the new rules and if large numbers of would-be voters are turned away it could create accusations of unfairness.

A parallel worry is a potential shortage of electoral officials. UK elections are largely run by a longstanding army of often older local people and many are deciding that having to turn away potential voters is a step too far.