Voter ID cards not compulsory for polling day

(CNS): Election officials reassured voters Tuesday that electors who do not have a voter ID card can still vote on General Election Day. The cards are meant to speed up the process but all registered voters can attend the polls with any form of picture identification, even if it has expired. Even voters who have no photo ID of any kind can still vote as presiding officers can administer oaths to confirm an elector’s identity. If voters bring picture ID to the polls, however, and if they know their registered voter number then the process of getting into a station to vote will be quicker and contribute to a smoother voting process overall on what is expected to be a busy polling day.

“Contrary to rumour, any elector who wants to vote is encouraged to do so. Any form of picture identification such as a passport (even if expired) driver’s license or employee ID is acceptable. The poll clerk only needs this to determine whether the elector is the same person on the register of electors,” Supervisor of Elections Kearney Gomez said. “For those individuals who have no form of identification the presiding officer may administer the oath that the elector is the person intended to be referred to in the official list of electors.”

When entering the polling station, voters must state their name, street address and occupation and then present to the poll clerk his or her elector’s registration card or whatever other form of ID they have.

Gomez also reminded voters that children are not permitted in polling stations and voters are not allowed to carry anything into the polls, such as handbags, and all cell phones and cameras or strictly prohibited.