Observers Praise Iceland’s Referendum but Flag Gaps in Its Voter ID Checks

International election observers have given Iceland’s August referendum on reopening European Union membership talks top marks, with one exception: not every voter had to show identification to get a ballot.

A British election observation group that sent 16 observers to 51 polling stations rated every station it visited “Very Good” or “Good” in its final report. It praised Iceland’s ballot secrecy, ballot-box security and orderly advance voting, and said the elections were “very well run.”

The one substantive problem it found: “Not every voter was required to provide identification to receive a ballot paper.” The group recommended “a renewed emphasis on ensuring that every voter displays photographic identification to receive a ballot paper.”

What Iceland’s law says

The gap is written into the law. Article 83 of Iceland’s Elections Act requires a voter to identify himself or herself with a document bearing a name, personal identification number and photograph, “such as a passport, driving licence or identity card, or by other means deemed satisfactory by the electoral commission.” Iceland’s election authority, in its Icelandic-language guidance, tells voters it is “best” to bring photo ID, and that a voter may also identify themselves “in another way” the polling committee accepts.

Icelanders rejected reopening EU accession talks in the August 29 vote.

What Texas requires

Texas voters face a firmer rule. Under state law, a voter who has one of seven acceptable forms of photo identification must show it at the polls, according to the Texas Secretary of State. The list includes a Texas driver’s license, a Texas election identification certificate, a Texas personal identification card, a Texas handgun license, a military ID card, a citizenship certificate with a photo, and a passport.

A voter who does not have one and cannot reasonably get one can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and show a supporting document, such as a voter registration certificate, a utility bill or a bank statement. Lying on the declaration is a crime under the Texas Election Code. A voter who has an acceptable ID but forgot it can vote provisionally and must show the ID to the county registrar within six days.

Early voting in Texas opened Monday for the November 3 election, under that rule.

Iceland wrote its election law in Reykjavik, and Texas wrote its own in Austin. Each set its own rule for who gets a ballot.