We investigate how the introduction of compulsory photo voter ID changes elections. In 2023 a reform in the United Kingdom made voting conditional on the presentation of photo ID, yet the country has no national form of ID. The government at the time saw voter ID as a measure to reduce the potential for electoral fraud and increase voter confidence in the electoral process. Opponents highlight the potentially adverse effects of the reform on voter turnout, inclusion, fairness, and satisfaction with the electoral process. In this Economic and Social Research Council-funded project we examine how the UK reform affects voter behaviour, including electoral participation, and voters’ perceptions of elections. Our research provides the first comprehensive study on the effects of voter ID in the UK and provides timely and impartial information to stakeholders including the UK Government, Parliament, and Electoral Commission.
Team: Petra Schleiter, Jonathan Homola, Jeremy Siow, Joelle Tasker, Margit Tavits