Lewisham’s mayoral candidates have mixed opinions on plans to make voters show photo ID at polling stations to prevent fraud, amid concerns the move will stop ‘marginalised’ people from voting.

The new plans, which will be trialled in five London boroughs this May 3, will see voters bring photo ID or two forms of non-photo ID in order to be able to cast their vote.

Independent candidate Duwayne Brooks echoed concerns the move to force voters to show photo identification at polling stations would discriminate against people from ethnic minority communities.

“All the concerns that have been raised, I echo. Everybody has a national insurance number. Currently all you’re required to vote is a national insurance number,” he said.

“If we have that ID system someone will lose a vote, people lose their power to vote.”

People Before Profit mayoral candidate John Hamilton was concerned with the motives behind the move by the Cabinet Office.

He said: “I don’t think there is a need. We already have a low turn out in local elections, so to put more hurdles in front of people when there is little evidence of voter fraud: what is the motive?”

Liberal Democrat Chris Maines was concerned the move would alienate marginalised people.

“I think we should be making it much easier for people to vote rather than harder,” he said.

“We should be encouraging homeless people to engage in the democratic system.”

He said councils could do more to combat fraud.

“If there is any fraud it’s probably the way the register is constructed and of course the council’s blame the voter and not their own bureaucracy’s weaknesses,” he added.

But Conservative mayoral candidate Ross Archer was supportive of the extra measures.

“At the moment I could turn up and have someone’s postal address and their name and chances are i would be allowed to vote. I am not saying there are huge amounts of voter fraud but some sort of ID should be included. Most people have a bank card and most people have a bill. Northern Ireland, where it’s been there for years, have some of the highest voter figures. Measures are keeping up with the times. It is important that our system is robust and secure.”

Many different campaign organisations, including Age UK, the Salvation Army, Stonewall and Operation Black Vote, have called for the new laws to be scrapped.

In a leaked letter to the Cabinet Office, the Equality and Human Rights Commission also claimed the new rules would hit the young and old, those with disabilities and transgender people.

Labour mayoral candidate Damien Egan and Democrats and Veteran mayoral candidate Will Donnelly have also been contacted for comment.