What got readers talking today? (Picture: Getty)
To participate in local elections in England this Thursday, you will be required to bring photo ID to the polling station or you will be unable to vote. From October the rule will be enforced for UK General elections as well.
The introduction of ID’s to vote has puzzled some Metro readers with one believing the change it could influence voter turn out.
You can still apply for a free voter ID document if you don’t happen to have photographic ID or apply for an emergency proxy vote.
Will having to bring photo ID affect whether you’ll vote at all?
In other puzzling news, Metro readers are discussing the difficulty of our Metroku, witnessing digital detox on the London underground, the habits of conspiracy theorists, continuing the toilet seat sexism debate and pondering the preference to stand or sit while peeing.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Why do we need to bring voter ID?
■ Voters in England’s local election on Thursday will need to take voter ID to take part for the first time.
Various kinds are acceptable and can be checked with the council or Electoral Commission. If voters do not have the right identification, they will not be allowed to vote.
Why this has been introduced is a puzzle. There is very little fraud in this country and the number of prosecutions is tiny.
So why has the government changed the law to force people to take photographic evidence of their identity to vote? It is not going to increase the number of voters, which is what should be the aim.
Trevor Fisher, Stafford
From May 4th you’ll need valid photo ID to vote in local elections (Picture: Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty)
Digital detoxing on the commute
■ Am I the only one who has noticed an increasing amount of people on the London Underground engrossed in a book instead of being inanely hypnotised by a small rectangular device that is constantly caressed and stroked by their index finger while having an vacant and lifeless expression?
Is the worm turning? I hope so. Am I stuck in my ways? I know so. Hang out the bunting.
Ben Calder-Smith, Rochester
Have you noticed more people reading on the underground? (Photo by John Keeble/Getty)
If the Metroku puzzle was easier would you do it?
■ Victoria (MetroTalk, Thu) says last Tuesday’s Metroku was incorrect because it had multiple solutions. I’m sorry, but it was indeed unique, as confirmed by an excellent online Sudoku solver. I think Victoria may have made a mistake.
Has anyone noticed, though, how much harder the ‘challenging’ Metroku has become?
I would now call it ‘impossible’ unless you have several hours to spare and I, along with many other readers I suspect, have long since abandoned it. Please bring back the simpler version.
Alan, Baldock
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