A TOTAL of 139 voters were turned away from Thurrock polling stations in May, a new report has revealed.

Local elections on May 4 required voters to have specific forms of ID in order to vote. These included drivers' licences, passport or a new Voter Authority Certificate which could be obtained online. Many, particularly elderly voters, were not able to provide these or had no means of access online certificates.

Of the 139 refused a ballot paper, 88 returned with the correct ID but 51 failed to return to cast their vote.

It is the first time such a high level election report has been compiled by Thurrock Council and data obtained will help the authority assist voters more at the next elections.

Councillors on the general services committee said the new system had undoubtedly deterred some votes.

Speaking at the meeting Cllr John Kent, leader of the Labour Group, said: "We all knocked on doors where people were saying "I've always voted but I can't" and that is disappointing .

"The upside with the voter authority certificate, there were a few that I had to help people apply for and they came back within 48 hours. I was absolutely amazed. It was a real help."

Cllr Andrew Jefferies, leader of the council and chairman of the committee, said some residents who were lifelong voters had been unable to cast their vote.

He said: "I certainly met a number of people who were not digitally engaged and they had no driving licence or passport but they really did want to vote.

"They were really concerned that for the first time ever, in 40 years, they were never going to vote so I think it's really important that we do get out and reach as many people as possible."

Cllr Luke Spillman, Conservative councillor for Ockendon, said: "I think the ID data has limited value because it's the people that didn't bother to come because they didn't have ID.

"It's just very disappointing . I'm not in favour of it at all."

There were 88,864 residents eligible to vote in May's elections but only 18,054 – 20.3 per cent – attended polling stations compared to 26.09 per cent the previous year. A total of 12,634 absent votes were issued.

Votes from Thurrock's 16 wards were counted at the London Cruise Terminal.