At 106, former suffragette Amy Hawkins was not going to let anything stop her voting in the recent selection. She can just about walk and her family accompanied her to the local polling station, in Monmouth. But then they were shocked to find that she was banned from voting.
She and her granddaughters were told that her name was not on the electoral register, although grand-daughter, Hannah Freeman, said categorically that she saw her name on the electoral role at the beginning of the year.
Her granddaughters were furious. She could not vote because she had not been verified. Tamzin Powell said she understood that there had been some special verification measure brought in after the Brexit vote ‘which means that you need to have links to an ID card or Ntional Insurance, but she is 106.’
Appalled people commented on her family’s posts slamming what happened to the determined voter. One person said: “Absolutely disgraceful, this lady has most definitely earned her right to vote. Shameful.” Another said: “Appalling. Denied her democratic rights because of bureaucratic incompetence. Shame on them.”
What a shame that someone who fought for the vote wasn’t able to exercise it, because of the ‘system’. Especially as this may be the last chance she will have to vote. After all, there aren’t all that many 106 year olds, especially those who’ll make a huge effort like she did! Surely someone could have made a phone call and verbally verified that it was her?
Link to the story is here: http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/15339104.VIDEO__Family_fury_as_106_year_old_woman_denied_vote_in_Monmouth/
