Voter ID is a bad idea. Here’s why

The Morrison government is pushing legislation to mandate voter ID at polling places. Contrary to some critics, what it proposes will not create US-style “voter suppression”.

But it is still an unnecessary idea at an inappropriate time.

Countries like Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (until now at least) do not require electors to show ID to vote. Many other systems do.

Insecurity about security is a conservative trope.

So it is natural for political conservatives, temperamentally, to favour voter ID, with the argument being it is an “integrity” measure.

Social democrats, on the other hand, are more trusting and…