Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson, ex-British Prime Minister turned away from voting over ID

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was turned away from a polling station in the ongoing local elections in the United Kingdom, UK.

Johnson was reportedly turned away from the polling unit for not presenting a valid identification which he claimed was forgotten.

AP reports on Friday that the former Prime Minister who introduced the requirement for voters to provide ID with a photo when he was in office was told by polling station staff in South Oxfordshire on Thursday that he would not be able to vote without proving his identity.

Johnson, who served as Conservative prime minister from 2019 to 2022, was later able to cast his ballot.

The former PM introduced the Elections Act requiring photo ID in 2022, and the new law was first implemented in 2023 in local elections.

But Thursday was the first time large numbers of voters across England and Wales have had to present ID, such as a passport or driving license, to vote.

The Electoral Commission said the vast majority of people were able to meet the new requirements, although it noted that some people who would have wanted to vote may have decided not to try because they did not have acceptable ID.