Man questions rejection of bus pass as voter ID

A man has questioned why he was unable to vote in local elections after his bus pass was not accepted as a valid form of ID.

Mike Frost from Bristol tried to use his West of England Combined Authority (WECA) bus pass to vote at St Martins Lane polling station, but was turned away.

A total of 12 types of travel passes from around the UK are considered valid forms of ID, but the WECA pass is not among them.

The Electoral Commission told the BBC polling station staff cannot allow people to vote if they carry a form of ID that has not been formally approved.

Mr Frost had been trying to cast his vote in the WECA mayoral election on Thursday.

He said the polling station "refused to let me vote, despite agreeing that, yes, I was who I said I was and that I had proved this".

"This is absurd" he added.

"This is petty bureaucracy gone mad. It is the rot of our democracy."

In total, more than 20 types of document are accepted, including passports, driving licences, older or Disabled Person's bus passes, as well as Oyster 60+ cards.

The WECA pass carries a photo of the user and permits them to use Bristol buses for free during the month of their birthday, but does not carry a date of birth.

The BBC approached the Electoral Commission, the independent body that oversees UK elections, about Mr Frost's concerns.

Its response confirmed "the Elections Act 2022 specifies the types of documents that are accepted forms of ID".

It added: "Under the legislation, polling station staff can not give voters a ballot paper unless they are able to show one of those forms.

"The list has been passed by parliament and cannot be amended by the Commission."

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