Campaigners have warned that Tory plans to make it compulsory for voters to show photographic ID at UK elections risks "locking ordinary people out of democracy".
The UK Government is pushing ahead with its controversial Elections Bill despite opposition from both the SNP and Labour.
It could see voters turned away at polling stations at future UK-wide elections or referendums if they are unable to present a passport or driving licence.
Tory ministers claim such a move is required to clamp down on electoral fraud despite little evidence of it.
The UK Government announced this week it expects voter ID rules will be in place by spring 2023.
It claims a new "voter card" scheme will allow the public to apply for a free ID if they don't have a passport or drivers licence.
But there are fears the law change is a deliberate tactic to make it harder for certain sections of society to vote.
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, told the Record: "There already exists a significant gap in voter turnout between people on low and high incomes, which is something that has profound consequences for our political system.
"Politicians of all stripes should be focused on closing that gap, to ensure the strength of our democracy and guarantee the representation of all of our communities."
He added: "It is deeply concerning that the UK Government are bringing forward these proposals which - given that people on low incomes are less likely to have passports or driving licences - threaten to disenfranchise people across the country.
"The repercussions of this ill-thought-out legislation will be serious, with even-greater exclusion and disconnection from political processes. UK ministers must urgently re-think."
Holyrood polls would be unaffected by the proposed law as they are overseen by the Scottish Parliament.
Dr Jess Garland, director of policy at the Electoral Reform Society, said: "Compulsory voter ID poses a huge risk to democratic access and equality.
"Millions of people lack photo ID in this country. These proposals will make it harder to vote for huge numbers of voters, locking ordinary people out of our democracy.
"The UK Government has consistently failed to make a credible case for these measures or set out how they will mitigate the negative impact of the changes.
"It's time the Government stops and re-thinks these costly and unnecessary proposals and comes back with an Elections Bill that strengthens our democracy, rather than weakening it."
Kemi Badenoch, the UK Government's minister for equalities, said members of the public would soon be able to apply for a free "voter card" if they did not have a drivers licence or passport.
"The changes brought forward by the Bill are vital to ensure our democracy remains secure, fair, modern and transparent," she told MPs in a statement on Thursday.
She added: "A voter card will be available free of charge to ensure that all electors have access to an accepted form of identification.
"The Government is clear that the process for applying for this card must be accessible for all those who need it."
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