[feintruled]

Not as easy as it sounds. I was in a Government office for some tax related reason and was in line behind some guys trying to apply for their 'electrical card' (sic, electoral). This is in N. Ireland, which unlike the rest of the UK requires ID to vote.

They were having to be talked through filling in the form only to hit a roadblock when it came to proof of address. After expressing their voluble disbelief at some length that the handwritten doctor's note they had would not suffice, they eventually left empty-handed. (Incidentally, they were only looking the card to use it for ID for flying, they had no interest in voting).

Now these guys were obviously jokers, but it shows you will need a certain degree of application and time to get even the most rudimentary of verifiable ID. Even the conscientious may find themselves not getting around to getting the ID before election and losing their vote.

[richardknop]

That's implementation problem, not an argument against making sure only eligible citizens can vote.

Why not have a national ID like in some European countries? Issue it at age of 15, you can go to a government office with parents when you are 15 and get your ID.

You can pass a sensible legislation for this. Have a grace period of 2 election cycles to allow all the people who want to vote enough time to get their ID (10 years is more than enough time to prove your address).

[bluGill]

Why do you need to have an address? What is wrong with being homeless?

[richardknop]

I was reacting to the parent comment. For some reason in Northern Ireland example cited there proof of address was required.

Government can issue IDs without proof of address. This is matter of implementation. For national election at least you shouldn't need it. For local elections it should be required.

[feintruled]

Governments can and do issue ID using whatever criteria they see fit. But the lesser the criteria the weaker the proof. I mean, you need a photo at least, right? And presumably some means of proving that photo is you (for passports in UK you have to get a doctor or similar person of authority to sign a declaration). So it's not such a simple matter.

[richardknop]

In my country where everybody has a national ID, you go to police station when you turn 15 to pick it up. You don't have proof of address when you are 15 because you live with your parents. So they send letter to the address of parents.