{"id":71805,"date":"2023-01-24T17:01:14","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T17:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=71805"},"modified":"2023-01-24T17:13:54","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T17:13:54","slug":"the-barrier-to-voting-you-may-not-have-identified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2023\/01\/24\/the-barrier-to-voting-you-may-not-have-identified\/","title":{"rendered":"The barrier to voting you may not have identified"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Now that you need valid photo ID to vote in UK elections, what are the steps you can take to protect your vote?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FROM this year a valid photo ID will have to be presented at polling stations to vote in UK Government elections – but you can\u2019t just use any ID. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use a passport, which is the preferred option, a driving licence or a PASS card<\/a>, all of which cost money. There are others you can use but they tend to be aimed at older generations – creating “barriers” for younger voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need ID to vote in general elections, by-elections, Police and Crime Commissioner elections, and recall petitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2021 Census revealed 2.5 million usual residents in Wales (81.2%) hold at least one passport, while 583,000 (18.8%) do not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff and the surrounding area have some of the highest levels of passport-holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in Blaenau Gwent a quarter of the residents do not own one – the highest percentage in Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n