Kiama MP Gareth Ward has expressed frustration after a bill aimed at strengthening voter integrity was voted down in NSW Parliament, despite support from the Coalition and several independents.

Ward’s Electoral Amendment (Voter ID and Electronic Mark-Off) Bill proposed two key reforms: requiring some form of ID to vote and replacing paper rolls with electronic mark-off systems.

He said both measures were long overdue.

“East Timor has stronger voter integrity laws than we do. When you vote there, you dip your finger in ink. Here, we still rely on people crossing your name off a bit of paper,” Ward said.

According to the NSW Electoral Commission, over 3000 people voted more than once in the last state election.

With tighter margins in many electorates, Ward argues these figures are significant.

The bill would have introduced ID requirements such as a driver’s licence, Medicare card, pension card or student card.

For voters without ID, a statutory declaration option would remain in place, preserving access for all.

Despite this, Labor and the Greens opposed the bill, arguing it could disadvantage vulnerable people, including those who are homeless or Indigenous, who may struggle to provide identification.

Ward, who is a former Minister for Families and Communities, dismissed this concern.

“During COVID, I asked how we could efficiently communicate with people in social housing. The answer was that 90 per cent have smartphones. If you’ve got a smartphone, you can get electronic ID,” he said.

He believes the opposition has more to do with politics than principle.

“Clearly, Labor and the Greens think they have something to gain by keeping the system weak.

It is shameful they voted against basic voter protections,” Ward said.

The bill had support from the Liberals, Nationals and crossbench MPs but fell short of the numbers needed to pass.

Ward also pointed out the irony that stricter identification measures exist for entering a social venue than for voting.

“At the Leagues Club, you insert your driver’s licence into a scanner. It reads and records your personal data, and then prints out a slip that allows you to enter the club. Yet you can walk into a polling booth and vote without showing any ID. That’s a gap we should be closing,” he said.

Ward has vowed to continue advocating for reform, saying voter integrity is vital to democracy.