Voters will have to show passports to combat voter fraud in ‘vulnerable’ areas with large Muslim populations

From the Telegraph 

Voters in towns and cities with large Muslim communities where there are concerns about election fraud will have to show their passports or driving licences before casting their ballot.

The Government has announced that voters should have to produce identification in order to vote to reduce the risk of “endemic corruption” and protect the democratic process.

The voter ID scheme will be trialed in 18 areas which have been identified by police and the Electoral Commission as being “vulnerable” to voting fraud, including Bradford and Birmingham.

The Government will also introduce legislation to ban political campaigners from handing in large numbers completed postal ballots on election day. It comes after concerns that activists are “harvesting” votes to boost support.

Pilots will also take place in Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Bristol, Burnley, Calderdale, Coventry, Derby, Hyndburn, Kirklees, Luton, Oldham, Pendle, Peterborough, Slough, Tower Hamlets, Walsall, and Woking.

It has warned that there is a particular concern at the “vulnerability of some South Asian communities, specifically those with roots in parts of Pakistan or Bangladesh, to electoral fraud”.

Ministers are also preparing to introduce greater powers to enable police to stop people from “causing a nuisance” or “intimidating” people at polling station.