Assistance for electors

Skip to:

All voters have the right to vote independently and secretly. We offer a range of support in our polling stations to ensure that all voters can cast their vote independently or with assistance. 

We can also provide assistance with registering to vote and completing postal or proxy applications.

Voting at a polling station

Our polling stations have:

  • ramps where required
  • adapted polling booths suitable for wheelchair users
  • large print ballot paper(s) available to take into the polling booth
  • tactile voting devices to assist blind and partially-sighted voters in marking the ballot paper independently
  • grips to attach to the ballot pencil to assist when marking the ballot paper
  • magnifiers for reading notices or marking the ballot paper
  • chairs, if you are unable to stand for long periods
  • friendly and helpful polling station staff to provide support and assistance

Using your own aids

You can use your own aids to help you read or mark a ballot paper. For example, a text-to-speech smartphone app, a torch or a magnifier.

However, you must not take any photos inside the polling station.

You need to inform our polling station staff you're using your own aid.

Personal assistance

Voters with disabilities can choose anyone who is over 18 to accompany them in the polling station to help them vote.

You need to tell polling station staff if you would like a companion to assist you. Your companion will need to complete a declaration form.

Voters with disabilities can also ask the Presiding Officer to help them complete their ballot paper. Presiding Officers are legally bound by the Requirement for Secrecy, and you can be confident your vote will remain secret.

Someone can assist you by:

  • helping you move around the polling station
  • reading out the candidates’ names and parties on the ballot paper in order
  • explaining the voting options to you
  • using their knowledge of your communication methods to understand who you want to vote for
  • accompanying you into the polling booth  
  • marking the ballot paper with your decision if you permit them to do so

They cannot:

  • make your voting decision for you
  • mark the ballot paper against your wishes 
  • stop you from voting because you have a disability or require additional support

Wheelchair access

All our polling stations are wheelchair accessible and temporary ramps are provided if needed. Some polling stations may have an alternative step-free access route, and this will be clearly signposted.

If you have difficultly accessing the polling station, the Presiding Officer is available to assist you. 

Each polling station has a low-level polling booth designed for wheelchair users.

Voting aids for visually impaired or blind voters

  • Large print copies of the ballot paper(s) are displayed in every polling station and can be taken into the polling booth. These can only be used as a reference, as the vote must be cast on a standard print ballot paper. 
  • Tactile voting devices can be attached to the ballot paper. It has numbered flaps that cover each candidate or option on the ballot paper. The numbers are embossed in black and include braille markings. Presiding Officers can assist voters with this if required.

Other ways of voting

If you do not want to go the polling station to vote you can:

Requests for reasonable adjustment

Standard adjustments are already in place, however, the specific needs of each individual will vary and additional adjustments may be possible. 

If you believe that there are other adjustments that would assist you to either register to vote or cast your vote, then please contact Electoral Services to discuss with you what is possible:

More information and resources

My Vote My Voice campaign

My Vote My Voice campaign supports voting for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Their website provides a quick guide to voting.

GOV.UK

Easy read guide on applying for a Voter Authority Certificate

Mencap

Mencap has produced an easy read guide to voting for people with learning disabilities. It explains how to register to vote as well as the different types of voting. It has been written together with the Electoral Commission. 

United Response

United Response is a national disability charity, and they have produced specific information on the voting process. They have created useful guides available on their website for people with learning disabilities.

Learning Disability England

Learning Disability England have a range of accessible resources to assist electors.

Makaton

Makaton have a guide on how to vote in a polling station.

British Sign Language (BSL) videos: