Carlisle’s MP Julie Minns has said she will ‘push’ for gun licences to be used as voter ID in upcoming elections.

The news comes after the electoral commission said it want to expand the list of ID accepted at polling stations to include the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card, the 18+ Student Oyster photocard, and digital IDs.

Since May 2023, voters have needed to show photo ID to vote in UK parliamentary elections, and for local elections and referendums in England.

Figures from the Electoral Commission show 69 voters were initially turned away from polling stations in Carlisle due to ID rules in the general election this July.

While 67 of these returned to vote, two did not.

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The organisation cautions the true number may be higher than this, as some voters may have been told about the ID requirement by staff before they asked for a ballot, and therefore would not have been recorded as being turned away.

Julie Minns said: “I will also continue to push for gun licences to be allowed as voter ID, something I know would be welcomed by a number of residents in rural areas.”