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Identity Cards: Northern Ireland

Asked by Paul HolmesConservativeNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled Answered 12 June 2026UIN 6802

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the answer of 11 March 2026 to Question 118513 on Identity Cards: Northern Ireland, why it is detrimental to have the electoral ID used as a form of secondary identification by citizens in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn

The intended purpose of the Northern Ireland electoral ID card is for an elector to be able to prove their identity when voting. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI) produces the cards. It is not the responsibility of EONI to provide a secondary identification service; nor are they resourced to do so.

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