Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made headlines when he was turned away from a polling station during the U.K.’s local elections for forgetting to bring his ID.
Reports from British media revealed that Johnson, who was visiting a polling station in South Oxfordshire on Thursday, was informed by staff that he would not be able to vote without providing proof of identity.
This incident occurred despite Johnson himself introducing the requirement for voters to present ID with a photo during his time in office. However, after some initial setback, Johnson was eventually able to cast his ballot, reportedly voting Conservative.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Credits: AP News)
The requirement for photo ID was introduced through the Elections Act in 2022 and was first implemented in local elections last year.
However, Thursday marked the first time that a particular number of voters across England and Wales were required to present ID, such as a passport or driving license, to participate in the electoral process.
While the Electoral Commission stated that the majority of people were able to meet the new requirements, it also acknowledged that some individuals, including disabled people and the unemployed, encountered difficulties in obtaining acceptable ID.
Boris Johnson (Credits: NBC News)
Additionally, there were concerns that certain eligible voters may have been deterred from voting altogether due to the ID requirement.
