Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was denied entry to a polling location during the ongoing local elections in the United Kingdom, UK.
Reports indicate that Johnson was refused access to the polling station as he failed to provide a valid form of identification, which he claimed to have forgotten.
According to the Associated Press, the former Prime Minister, known for implementing the voter ID requirement during his tenure, was informed by polling officials in South Oxfordshire on Thursday that he could not vote without verifying his identity.
Having served as the Conservative prime minister between 2019 and 2022, Boris Johnson was eventually able to submit his vote.
During his time in office, the ex-PM introduced the Elections Act mandating the presentation of photo ID in 2022, with the law being enforced for the first time in the 2023 local elections.
However, Thursday marked the debut of extensive voter ID checks across England and Wales, necessitating the provision of acceptable identification like a passport or driver’s license to participate in the election process.
The Electoral Commission reported that the majority of individuals successfully adhered to the updated regulations, although it acknowledged that certain potential voters may have abstained due to the lack of appropriate identification.
