Shropshire Star

'This is the first time that I have not voted': Shropshire veteran's anger as her ID not accepted

A Shropshire army veteran who has never missed an election in her life said she was unable to vote on Thursday, as her newly issued government's veterans card was not accepted as ID.

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A government minister has now apologised after veterans across the UK were turned away from polling booths this week.

Among them was Claire Ashton, who served in the army in 1969, and was issued the government's veteran card last year along with 71,000 former serving personnel across the UK.

Mrs Claire Ashton, army veteran who was turned away from voting using her veterans ID card.

The 72-year-old from Uffington, near Shrewsbury said when she went to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on Thursday, she was turned away for not having the correct photo ID.

She said: "I went at Uffington Shropshire Polling Station and was turned away as not having correct ID. I had my polling card and my Government issued Armed Forces Veterans ID Card but was told this was not sufficient.