People in Watford will have to show ID before they vote in next May’s mayoral and council elections as part of a pilot scheme aimed at tackling electoral fraud.

Watford will be one of five local authorities to trial the new voting rules, which will require constituents to produce their polling card or ID to receive their ballot paper.

However the scheme has been slated by the town’s Labour Party, which described the move as “a sledgehammer to crack a walnut”.

Watford Labour Party’s election agent Mike Jackson said: “There is no evidence or even a suggestion of electoral fraud in Watford. The few incidents of fraud elsewhere should be managed under existing laws and those guilty should be punished heavily. This measure is simply a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

“Many voters mislay their polling cards or chuck them away as junk mail. It’s a very common problem.

“The real likelihood is that this scheme will deter many people from voting, particularly young and old people or people whose first language isn’t English. It’s difficult enough to encourage people to vote in local elections without this new impediment.

“I am frankly appalled that Watford Council is supporting this scheme, which can only result in detriment to many voters.”

The form of identification required will be set by individual councils but the pilot will involve trialling both photo ID and non-photo ID to see what is most effective and efficient.

Next year’s trial is likely to be the first in a series of pilots to allow the Electoral Commission and Cabinet Office to evaluate the impact of asking for ID, before a decision is taken on whether or not to roll it out nationally.

The move comes after reports of alleged electoral fraud through voter impersonation more than doubled between 2014 and 2016, according to figures from the Electoral Commission.

Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said she and the council were pleased to support the Cabinet Office’s initiative, adding: “Whilst we always have very positive feedback on how elections are run in Watford, it is always good to try new things – especially where they might encourage everyone to use their vote and make sure they exercise their democratic right at election time.”

Watford Borough Council’s managing director and returning officer Manny Lewis added: “We are taking part in this pilot to support the continued integrity of the voting system and ability of eligible voters to cast their votes without difficulty.

“We are particularly keen to ensure that voter ID requirements have a really positive impact on the election process.”