Ask HN: Does Your Country Require Voter ID?
5 pointsby RickJWagner8 hours ago3 comments
  • andsoitis8 hours ago
    The vast majority of countries require some form of voter identification. As of 2021, photo ID was required by 176 countries or jurisdictions for voting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_identification_laws

    Countries without voter ID requirements for elections at the national level are short: Australia and New Zealand. Close is Scotland, which does not require photo ID for Scottish government and council elections.

    In the US, some states require voter ID to vote in national elections, while others don't.

    So the US, Australia, and New Zealand are outliers.

    It really boggles the mind why it is such a contentious issue in the US.

    • gus_massa4 hours ago
      If the idiots here in Argentina can give an national ID card to everyone, then it's not so hard. Here it's cheap, like US$10 or something like that, but you can ask for a an exception and get it for free.
    • newhope19786 hours ago
      [dead]
  • magicalhippo8 hours ago
    Norway. Requires identifying yourself using some official ID like national ID card, passport or drivers license[1].

    If you for some reason can't provide valid ID, but the one collecting your vote knows you, that person can vouch for your identity[2]. For example if you're an inmate, one of the prison guards can vouch for you.

    [1]: https://valgmedarbeiderportalen.valg.no/ofte-stilte-sporsmal...

    [2]: https://lovdata.no/nav/lov/2023-06-16-62/kap6/%C2%A76-11

  • jhellan8 hours ago
    Norway does. I think it was introduced in the 1990's after Helsinki Accord observers reported the possibility of fraud.

    Until then, if you voted early and gave somebody else's name, you could have voted twice.

    I don't think this happens often. It would have been included in the report of possible irregularities that is published after each election. I looked through the reports after two or three elections, and never saw reports about this.

    • RickJWagner5 hours ago
      The report of irregularities sounds like a good idea.