Dear Sir,
It comes as no surprise that the Tories put forward a proposal, under the guise of a bill to end non-existent electoral ‘fraud’, that will create a barrier to people exercising their basic right to vote and is a clear act of voter suppression.
There were only seven cases of fraud in the last election, so there is no justification for this bill which aims to introduce a requirement for voters to produce photo ID at polling stations.
It is estimated that this will disenfranchise over 3 million people, the poorest in society, who do not possess an ID and haven’t the means to acquire one. This is a deliberate act to create a barrier to prevent certain people from voting.
The majority of those affected will be relying on benefits, or on zero-hour contracts, part time workers, single parents and those in insecure work and we know the majority of this economic group are women, who have continually been the majority of those effected by Tory austerity policies with 85% of cuts hitting women the hardest.
The Woman’s Budget Group report that:
• Women are more likely to be low paid and in insecure employment. 69% of low paid earners are women, 74% of those in part-time employment are women. 54% of those on zero hours contracts are women.
• Women are the majority of people living in poverty and female-headed households are more likely to be poor. For example, 45% of lone parents (90% of whom are women) are living in poverty.
This will also affect those belonging to ethnic minority groups and those with disabilities and men who also fall into this socio-economic group, but, by effectively removing the vote from poor working-class women, it is significant in its symbolism.
It is not just the cost of acquiring ID that is a barrier, it’s the bureaucracy involved which many people do not have the time or energy to go through.
After 100 years of hard-won suffrage, when women campaigned, fought, and even gave their lives, for the right to vote, if this bill is passed, it is this Tory government that will effectively be rolling back this fundamental right to a time when only a select class of women could vote.
A century after women acted under the slogan ‘Votes for Women’ it looks as though, once again, this slogan will be relevant as we fight to ensure votes for women remains a fundamental right for ALL women, by opposing this bill.
Please take action to support the fight to end this discriminatory bill by writing to your MP and ask him to vote against this, email contact: paul.howell.mp@parliament.uk
Sedgefield Labour Woman’s forum.
