Original question

This question was posted by an anonymous ACE user working for a political party in Canada.

would not require Muslim women wearing a veil that covers their whole face to unveil before voting.

I work as a researcher for an opposition party and I am looking into how different countries reconcile the identification of voters with the wearing of a veil such as a burqa and a niqab. More specifically, I would like to ask the following questions:

1. Among those who require a photo ID, do some warrant exceptions for religious reasons?

2. Are there any which explicitly prohibit voters to wear a veil at the time of voting?

3. Do you know of any publication or any other comparative information on the subject?

Thank you for your help. 

Introduction: Voter Identification

There are several methods of voter identification; in some countries no identification at all may be required - the voter simply signs the voters list. In other countries, the voter is required to proof his/her identity by displaying some kind of identification (a passport, driver's license or national ID card etc.). Very often these proof of identification is equipped with a photo. According to a survey from 2004, more than 100 countries utilize some kind of voter identification laws to guard against electoral fraud[1].

Summary of responses:

 
According to Michael Meadowcroft, this question of the right to vote and to wear a veil is part of a more complex discussion related to women, religious practices and dress codes. Nonetheless, regulations - or lack of regulations - on veiled voting might heavily affect the level of female voter registration and voter turnout; in Yemen, the all-time low registration rate of 14% among women were said to be at least partly caused by the fact that all voters were obliged to have their photo taken by the electoral authorities, who retained a copy of the photos. The next elections saw the removal of the regulation stating that a copy should be retained, and female registration rates raised to around 35%.

As stated by Ayman Ayoub, there are probably few or none countries which specifically prohibits voters from wearing a veil when voting. However, the problem of identification has been solved in different ways around the world. Below is a number of examples:

Separate polling stations for men and women

In several countries (e.g. Afghanistan and Pakistan), designated polling stations are set up for male or female voters only. The polling stations designated for women are staffed solely by female personnel in order to enable female voters wearing a veil to uncover their faces before voting.

Identification by female polling officers

Vladimir Pran and Ayman Ayoub mention that in Palestine, where there are no separate polling stations for men and women, any women wearing a veil can unveil in front of any female polling officer to have her identify verified. If there are no female polling officers present, the staff can ask any women in the polling station to assist in the process. Dr Noor Mohammad states that a similar solution was adopted in India to allow high caste Hindu and Muslim women to vote.

Enabling registration/voting without showing a photo

Replies were received, with thanks, from: 

Vladimir Pran

Staffan Darnolf

Ray Kennedy

Michael James Meadowcroft

Yvonne Goudie

Ayman Ayoub

Livianna Stephanie Tossutti

Dr Noor Mohammad

Links to related resources:  

On Veiled Voting

News article: Veiled Voters Must Swear Oath, Elections Canada, CBCNews.com, Sept. 30, 2008

Video clip: Veiled Voting in Canada, Youtube

Video clip: Voting, veils and politics. The day before, Youtube

iKNOWpolitics: Canada Election Chief Defends Muslim Veil Vote

On Voter Identification

ACE Consolidated reply: The use of a Photo Voter Roll

ACE Encyclopaedia: Voter Registration

ACE Encyclopaedia: Provisional or Tendered Votes

ACE Encyclopaedia: Voter's Proof of Identification

ACE Encyclopeadia: Voter Identification Methods

Other resources

Image: Flickr/shakescenery 

Accodding to manual for polling staff in Palestine (not the best translation)

1 The Station Chairman ensures the election ink being on the female elector’s finger.
2 An officer requests her ID and marks the register – if a woman – unveils her face for personality verification purposes.
3 If the officer is not a female, any other female working in the station can help in verifying the personality of the elector in comparison to her ID picture.
4 It is also possible to seek the help of any female working in the center’s crew to verify the elector’s personality, otherwise, she will not be allowed to elect.
5 In all abovementioned cases, veiled elector has to allow the officer to apply the ink on her finger.

In both Afghanistan and Pakistan, dedicated polling stations are set up for female voters. These stations are staffed by female personnel only.

In Afghanistan, we gave women the choice whether to have a photo on their voter ID or not -- most chose to have their photographs taken, which was done by female staff or, in some rare cases, by male elders.  As Staffan indicated, voting was at dedicated polling stations staffed by female pollworkers, so there was no problem with women uncovering their faces.

Whilst not answering the questions directly - what follows is a quick description of the Australian situation:

In Australia there is no photo identification (no voter identification card) used in voting - voters simply provide their name and address verbally when voting (and their name is checked off a voters list by the polling official). Also, when enrolling (or changing enrolment details) - no photo identification needs to be shown - enrolling voters only need to state their identification document official number (eg passport, drivers license - which do have photo's on them) - but they do not need to show their photo identification. This means at no time during enrolling or voting, do voters need to show their (uncovered) face (ie this issue may be dealt with by other authorities - passport office, drivers license authority, etc).

In Northern Ireland, one of four forms of photographic identification must be produced as proof of identity in order to vote.  There is no indication that exemptions are made for religious reasons.

In New Zealand, photographic identification is not required for compulsory enrolment.

In Sweden, voters who are not known to electoral officers must show identification or confirm their identification.  In The Netherlands the chair of the electoral committee may require proof of evidence of identification (Section J24, Elections Act).  Polling station officials would be best placed to comment on how these rules are implemented on voting day.

In India Elector's Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) are used to identify voters. At present not all electors have been issued EPIC and hence other documents like driving licence, passport etc are used in those cases.

There was some hesitation on the part of some high caste Hindu women in rural India and middle class Muslims, who generally observe veil from elders or outsiders for cultural reasons. We had to talk to the community and to deploy women staff in the polling stations to identify them.

In fact these groups do get their Passports (with photographs) for international travels and travel to Jeddah for Haj. I think it is a question of civic education that should take the clergy along this exercise. In addition, Palestine, Afghanistan, Yemen, India and other cited experiences provide enough insight to deal with the issue.

A law that provides for uncovering faces to identify may incorporate deployment of women staff or women volunteers would serve the purpose.