Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson turned away from polling station in ongoing local elections

In an unexpected twist during the ongoing local elections in the United Kingdom, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson found himself turned away from a polling station, stirring controversy and raising eyebrows across the nation.

According to reports from the Associated Press (AP) on Friday, Johnson was denied entry to the polling unit in South Oxfordshire due to his failure to present a valid form of identification.

The former Prime Minister, who claimed to have forgotten his ID, was informed by polling station staff that he would not be permitted to cast his vote without proving his identity.

The incident carries a touch of irony, as Johnson had introduced the requirement for voters to provide photo ID during his tenure as Prime Minister. The Elections Act, which mandated the use of photo ID, was enacted by Johnson’s government in 2022 and first implemented during local elections in 2023.

Thursday’s local elections marked the first widespread application of the photo ID requirement across England and Wales.

While the Electoral Commission noted that the majority of voters were able to meet the new requirements, it acknowledged that some individuals may have refrained from attempting to vote due to a lack of acceptable identification.

Despite the initial setback, Johnson was eventually able to cast his ballot. However, the incident has reignited debate surrounding the necessity and implications of requiring voters to present ID at polling stations, with critics highlighting potential barriers to voter participation.

As the UK grapples with the aftermath of this incident, it serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding electoral policies and their practical implementation in democratic processes.