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[muninnhuginn]

I went off to vote late last night, round about 9.15 (I had intended to go from school with LL in tow to demonstrate how to be a good citizen--but it was baking hot and we were both feeling grotty). This meant that a poor old Labour activist had to knock me up (why? in our ward! especially when no canvassing had been done) to be told for the severalth time that I hadn't voted for them for ever so long (since Antonionionio's accession to be precise) but I would be going out later--at which point he got (jokingly) a little less keen on my going to the polling station. So off I went without even a piece of paper: the polling cards have got so big the last couple of years (without, I think, much of an increase in legibility) that I really don't want to take one with me. Anyway, I don't have to, so why bother.

Wandering home again in the unseasonable heat, I realised that the numbers of times I could do that--turn up without any piece of paper and simply give my address and confirm my name--were probably rapidly diminishing. As soon as ID cards come in, I'm sure they'll be required when one votes. Since I have no intention of getting my very own little bit of plastic, I guess this means the occasions on which I can turn up and vote are rapidly dwindling.

I celebrated my present access to the democratic process with a bottle of beer.

Comments

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Good point. Several people complained yesterday about not being asked to show ID to prove they were voting legitimately.

[muninnhuginn]

I've always enjoyed the trust that's placed in us all to behave properly around voting. It's part of a social model that's rapidly disappearing. The one where one is innocent until proven guilty, entitled to what one claims, free to turn up and vote without an inquisition; the one where one tries not to offend, claims only that to which one is entitled, turns up and votes without compulsion.

But there you go. As an unreformed romantic anarchist, I was bound to be disappointed.

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

Quite... And Blair continues to claim that ID cards do not change the relationship between state and citizen...

[armb.livejournal.com]

> As soon as ID cards come in, I'm sure they'll be required when one votes.

These aren't compulsary ID cards. I'm sure they won't be required when they first come in. Not until, oh, the first election after they come in. Maybe even the first one when it looks as though someone who might abolish the cards might get in.

[muninnhuginn]

The point about the non-compuslory cards was going to be the number of times one was potentially going to find it impossible to manage without one--compulsion by the back door. For example, there was the suggestion that employers were going to need to check the identity of new employees via a check on the national ID database, so, not having a card would make obtaining employment more of a hassle.

I've always thought the compulsion/non-compulsion thing was a non-issue. If they exist, folk will ask for them and if you don't have you won't get--whether that be treatment on the NHS or a hotel room.

[pickledginger.livejournal.com]

Cheers!