Almost 40% of voters in Ealing who were turned away from polling stations at the General Election last month (4 July 2024) due to a lack of photo ID did not return to vote.
Across London as a whole around 28% of people who were turned away did not then return to vote. In Ealing the figure was 37% with 86 turned away and only 54 coming back with photo ID.
In total of the 5,151 voters recorded by councils who were turned away at the London elections, 1,458 did not return to vote.
The Electoral Commission had previously found that 4% of non-voters in the 2023 local elections did not vote because of the new photo ID rules which were introduced by the former Conservative Government.
Len Duvall, Leader of the Labour Group at the London Assembly, said: “It is extremely worrying that so many Londoners were disenfranchised because of the previous Government’s photo ID rules. Our democratic rights are precious. Sadly, the last Government’s voter ID rules are getting in the way of Londoners having their voice heard.
Mr Duvall added: “Make no mistake: these rules were brought in because the last Government thought it would keep away those people less likely to vote for them. I urge Londoners to find photo ID or get a Voter Authority Certificate ahead of the 2026 local elections in our city so that they can have their say.”
