New data has revealed almost all electors voting in polling stations in Wyre Forest took an acceptable form of photo ID. 

Information released today (Friday, May 10) by the Returning Officer for Wyre Forest, Ian Miller, shows that 99.7 per cent of 9,861 electors brought photo ID that met the voter ID requirements of the Elections Act 2022. 

This covered electors voting in the 52 polling stations across Wyre Forest. 

The Returning Officer, Ian Miller, said: "Even though the change in legislation took effect a year ago, the message still does not appear to have got through to all electors that they need photo ID if they want to be able to vote in person.

"I am pleased that a very high proportion of electors in Wyre Forest brought suitable photo ID with them. They had heeded the message from local efforts to raise awareness and the national campaigns by the Electoral Commission."

The latest figures mean that by the end of the polling day, only 29 electors who tried to vote in a polling station were not given a ballot paper as they did not meet the voter ID requirements that came into force in May 2023. 

This was slightly higher than the equivalent number for May 2023, where 22 electors were turned away, but it represents only 0.3 per cent of electors who asked to be issued with a ballot paper in a polling station.

The figures also show that, while 65 electors were initially turned away, 36 returned with acceptable ID and were able to vote.

In May 2023, only 32 voters were initially turned away.

Mr Miller added: "Efforts will be renewed to raise awareness in the run-up to this year’s general election, as it would cause avoidable delay to other voters if hundreds of people were to turn up at polling stations without photo ID. 

"Photo ID is not required for applying for a postal vote and that option remains available for all electors."