Veterans angry after finding ID is invalid at polls

Mark Staplehurst was turned away at his polling station after presenting a Veteran Card as ID

Some veterans who tried to vote in local elections were left angry after being told their ID was invalid.

The former armed forces servicemen said they were turned away from polling stations in Gosport, Hampshire, on Thursday when they tried to use their Veteran Card as identification.

Issued by the UK government, the card was launched in January and requires applicants to provide their National Insurance number, dates of service and a photo.

But it is not on the government’s list of accepted forms of ID for voting in elections.

Veteran Cards are not currently recognised as valid ID when it comes to voting in elections

Mark Staplehurst offered his Veteran Card as ID when he visited his local polling station in Gosport, but was turned away.

“They said it wasn’t an appropriate method of ID – and did I have a driving licence?” he said.

He described the situation as “disgraceful” and said he did not end up voting “out of principle”.

Anyone who was in the regulars or reserves for the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force (RAF) or Royal Marines is eligible for a Veteran Card, according to the government.

Applicants must prove their identity as part of the process.

“You go through the rigmarole of filling all the forms out and proving who you are… and the fact they don’t accept this as an ID card, which is what it’s sold as, I just find it unbelievable,” Mr Staplehurst added.

Alan Day also found his ID was not accepted at his polling station

Alan Day also tried to present his Veteran ID at a polling station in Gosport.

He was told it was not valid.

“If somebody was turned away, if the numbers are sufficient, I think a recount should be done,” he said.

But at other Hampshire polling stations, the military card was reportedly accepted.

Riha Bunce, national activity co-ordinator for Armed Forces charity FirstLight Trust, said the ID had been taken in some parts of Fareham.

“There’s a lot of frustration within the veterans community about it,” she said.

About 90,000 adults and children are part of the Solent armed forces community, Gosport Borough Council has estimated.

Johnny Mercer, minister of state for veterans, apologised to those affected in a post on X.

“The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year,” he wrote.

“I will do all I can to change it before the next one.”

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