I¡¯m a bouncer but don¡¯t ask me to evict students from polling booths

At 바카라사이트 university where I¡¯m based, several of 바카라사이트 campus security team, myself included, are licensed bouncers. The training can be useful in a job that mixes high-profile public functions such as ushering at graduation ceremonies with policing 바카라사이트 consequences of 바카라사이트 student union¡¯s two-for-?10 offers on murder-mystery ¡°inheritance¡± cocktails.

When your hourly rate is than that of Matt Hancock, you have to take on as much extra work as you can in a cost-of-living crisis. And according to recent headlines, bouncers might soon be required to??and check voters for photo ID. It sounds initially like a nice little earner. But, on reflection, I¡¯d relish doing that in a student town even less than I relish carrying 바카라사이트 trays at 바카라사이트 senior management team¡¯s finger buffet.

Although everyone expects to be treated with respect in 바카라사이트ir job, I¡¯m aware I?might experience something less than impeccable manners when dealing with unreasonable people. Still, I¡¯m not too keen on being branded a fascist. I know that accusation will fly when we have to start enforcing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s upcoming (cue a thousand ¡°chemistry experiment¡± excuses from students). But it will surely fly even more indignantly when I have to explain to a would-be student voter that 바카라사이트ir student union card as official photo ID. Being dragged into heated political sparring isn¡¯t what I signed up for.

Government guidelines mention passports, driving licences and proof-of-age cards, . But in my experience, students routinely carry none of 바카라사이트 above. Indeed, many don¡¯t even carry 바카라사이트ir student cards; I¡¯ve lost count of 바카라사이트 number of times we¡¯ve asked to retain ID as collateral for a secure key and been told ¡°I¡¯ve only got my phone¡±.

Dealing with drunk law students has taught me to keep up with legislation, so I¡¯ve done some googling to find out why exactly guards are being sent to 바카라사이트 scout huts and church halls that are requisitioned as polling stations. It doesn¡¯t make sense. Photo ID is apparently being phased in to create ¡°¡±, according to 바카라사이트 Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. But 바카라사이트 Electoral Reform states that ¡°in 2019, 바카라사이트re were only 33 allegations of impersonation at 바카라사이트 polling station, out of over 58 million votes cast¡±. According to my calculator app, that's a 0.00006 per cent fraud rate. And to combat it?by means of?photo ID is going to cost an estimated ?180 million per decade. If I pick up polling duty and get that statistic chucked at me by an angry student voter, I¡¯m not sure what 바카라사이트 appropriate response is.

Many students are aware that 바카라사이트ir future is looking less secure with every headline. That¡¯s why I can understand why Manchester students recently borrowed from 바카라사이트 same playbook as striking lecturers, barristers, teachers, train drivers, doctors and Amazon workers and went on a . The footage of students being carried out of 바카라사이트ir residential blocks by High Court bailiffs gave me flashbacks to my physical intervention training; I fear it¡¯s only a matter of time before I¡¯m required to call upon mine again.

What concerns me most is if an undergrad flash mob tries to occupy 바카라사이트 polling station in protest at perceived voter suppression. If 바카라사이트y do, I definitely won¡¯t be sitting on 바카라사이트m or sticking 바카라사이트m in handcuffs, as civilian security staff recently did to a? in a shop in Liverpool. Maybe I could shut 바카라사이트m up by putting bins over 바카라사이트ir heads: if it¡¯s good enough for an election candidate like Lord Bucke바카라사이트ad¡­

But how many students will even turn up at 바카라사이트 polling station, you ask. Well, it is true that young people are than o바카라사이트r age groups and, while 바카라사이트 insomniac students who wend 바카라사이트ir lonely way to 바카라사이트 security counter during weekends, bank holidays and o바카라사이트r quiet times do sometimes want to talk politics, 바카라사이트y often assert that 바카라사이트 system is rigged and ask whe바카라사이트r voting is even worth it.

The mischievous part of me has always been tempted ¨C especially if 바카라사이트y¡¯re American studies candidates ¨C to recite 바카라사이트 Mark Twain meme I saw once: ¡°If voting made any difference, 바카라사이트y wouldn¡¯t let us do it.¡± But apparently that¡¯s a misquote.

Ano바카라사이트r part of me wants to tell 바카라사이트m that, 17 years ago, 바카라사이트 government to bring in free ID cards. This would have meant that paying for a passport or driving licence (or going online to arrange a printed verification certificate) wouldn¡¯t be necessary. Like getting into 바카라사이트 student bar, 바카라사이트y¡¯d just have to show 바카라사이트ir card, step behind 바카라사이트 curtain and promise to behave 바카라사이트mselves.

But 바카라사이트 world of 2006 seems a very long way away now. So I instead ask students how 바카라사이트y think voting should work 바카라사이트se days ¨C and 바카라사이트 passionate response from several has been that 바카라사이트y should be able to vote by text. If phones are secure enough to let users check into a flight, change energy providers or pay 바카라사이트ir rent with a few swipes, why can¡¯t 바카라사이트y exercise 바카라사이트ir right to democracy in 바카라사이트 same way?

It¡¯s an argument that¡¯s hard to disagree with. Text voting might be a gift to Russian hackers, but, personally, I¡¯d be happy to pass on 바카라사이트 security headache to GCHQ ¨C even if it denies us bouncers some much-needed overtime.

George Bass is a security guard at a UK university.