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<p>The Government carefully considered a wide range of documents when selecting which
<ins class="ministerial"> <strong>acceptable forms of identification to use at polling
stations </strong></ins><del class="ministerial">forms of identification would be
accepted for use at polling stations</del>. It is essential that the list of <ins
class="ministerial">accepted identification</ins><del class="ministerial">accepted
forms of identification</del> includes those <del class="ministerial">that are</del>
owned by the majority of the electorate, but also that the list <del class="ministerial">is
finite and so</del> can be effectively administered by polling station staff. Evidence
from <del class="ministerial">the voter identification</del> pilots showed that use
of <ins class="ministerial">a </ins>young person's rail card was very low <ins class="ministerial">where
they were trialled in Woking in 2018</ins><del class="ministerial"> against concessionary
travel passes for older people, where they were trialled in Woking in 2018</del>.
<del class="ministerial">Additionally, young</del> <ins class="ministerial">Young
</ins>person's railcards are <ins class="ministerial">also </ins>generally offered
in <del class="ministerial">both</del> digital and <del class="ministerial">hard copy</del>
<ins class="ministerial">physical </ins>formats <ins class="ministerial">but digital
formats are not currently accepted as voter identification</ins><del class="ministerial">and,
although it is intended that digital formats may be accepted n future, the Government
did not specifically include digital format documents for the roll out of the policy,
in order to support its effective delivery</del>. <del class="ministerial">Allowing
the hard copy</del> <ins class="ministerial">It was judged that allowing a physical
</ins>version of a young person's railcard but not a digital version could lead to
<del class="ministerial">voter</del> confusion.</p><p>Cabinet Office research shows
that 98% of electors already own a form of photographic identification (in date or
expired) that is accepted under the changes and this increases to 99% for those ages
18-29. A number of student cards are accredited by the Proof of Age Standards Scheme,
and so are accepted. This includes the National Union of Students endorsed 'TOTUM
+' student card, and a Young Scot card, meaning there are nationally available student
cards that will be accepted as identification in polling stations.</p><p>The Government
has committed in legislation to review the voter identification policy after implementation
and<ins class="ministerial">, as set out previously,</ins> will consider appropriate
changes to the list of accepted identification documents as part of this process.</p>
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