The election is just a couple of days away. If you are planning to vote, don't forget your polling card...

THURSDAY’S election will not be like those that have gone before, and for one simple reason.

For the first time, voters will be required to present identification when they arrive at the polling station.

Swindon is one of five local authorities that have agreed to pilot a new voter identification scheme, the ostensible purpose of which is to tackle electoral fraud.

But it has been strongly criticised on the grounds that it could restrict people’s right to vote, and, as the Electoral Reform Society has pointed out, voter fraud in the UK is notable mainly for its absence.

Analysis by the Electoral Commission of votes conducted in 2017 revealed that in UK polling stations there were just 28 allegations of ‘personation’, where someone is accused of assuming another’s identity to cast a vote.

Nevertheless, the Conservative administration in Swindon, which likes to be seen as innovative and forward-thinking, decided to put the town forward to trial the voter ID scheme when councillors in Slough pulled out at the last minute.

The idea is simple enough and is not expected to cause people too much inconvenience. Voters must bring their poll cards, or other forms of legally accepted identification, in order to be able to put a cross on the ballot sheet.

But despite the vociferous opposition, the council has reaffirmed its commitment to the scheme. Conservative leader David Renard has repeatedly said that if you need to produce ID to pick up a package from the Post Office, it is only right that you should prove who you are to vote.

Merits or demerits of the scheme aside for a minute, it is fascinating to discover just how much work has gone into getting it up and running and ready for Thursday.

“We wanted to do something innovative, because we like that in Swindon,” said the council’s electoral services manager, Sally Sprason.

“We haven’t had long to prepare for this, but it’s very exciting to try something a bit different – it’s always good to take part in new things.”

Sally is heading the team that has been tasked with ensuring the scheme runs smoothly on Thursday.

She explained that the polling cards that have for the past couple of weeks been dropping on people’s doormats now come decorated with a barcode which will be scanned into a tablet by staff on arrival at the polling station.

No more crossing off names with a ruler and a pencil. Indeed, the introduction of electronic scanning is anticipated to speed things up substantially.

When a voter produces suitable identification, the presiding officer or clerk must hand over a ballot paper to the voter unless they decide that the document raises “a reasonable doubt” as to who the person claims to be. Sally said: “Bringing in the technology has been a challenge. We needed to ensure it would be robust enough to work all day and to be completely secure. The tablets will contain information from the electoral register and the software had to have been be signed off by the cabinet office and GCHQ.

“We do have means to revert back to paper if need be, but we shouldn’t have to. The technology is not reliant on a 3G signal or a wi-fi connection.”

Luckily for voters in Swindon, it is not the ever-dwindling funds from the council’s empty coffers that have been used to bankroll the project but cash from central government. 

One of the biggest challenges the council has faced in relation to the scheme is ensuring that as many people as possible know about it beforehand and turn up at the polling booth armed with identification.

Mark Pritchard, one of the members of the communications team leading the project, said: “We have put a lot of work into making sure people know about this. It has probably been the biggest campaign we have run as a team in a very long time.”

In recent months, Mark’s team have contacted around 500 different stakeholder groups, from local charities to businesses and community groups, to ensure the message is sent far and wide.

Statistics will be produced afterwards to see how successful the pilot has been and whether there will be an appetite for other local authorities to adopt it in future elections.

Mark reminded people that, if the worst comes to the worst, they can still re-order their polling card anytime up until 5pm on election day.

But, he said, “we would still suggest people bring their driving licence or passport, if they have them, just in case.”

There are of course only a few days left before election day. But Sally added: “We would still encourage residents to spread the word amongst their families, friends and neighbours.”