Accessibility at the Polling Station

A range of support for voters with disabilities are available at each polling station to enable them to vote independently or with assistance.

Some of the ways we do this is:

  • Polling stations are wheelchair accessible and ramps are provided where needed.
  • Adapted level polling booth for wheelchair users.
  • Large print versions of ballot papers to view.
  • Tactile Voting Device, to enable blind voters to mark their ballot papers independently.
  • Friendly and helpful polling station staff who will make reasonable adjustments where possible.

The name and address of your polling station is on your poll card. If you have lost or misplaced your poll card, you can type in your postcode into the Where Do I Vote website https://wheredoivote.co.uk/ which will tell you where your polling station is located and the approximate distance from your registered address. It also provides directions for how you can get to your polling station.

All polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm. If there’s a queue at your polling station, you’ll still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.

Many polling stations have disabled parking bays. If you are voting at a polling station without a designated bay, we will display signage designated for disabled parking.

If you are a voter with a disability or require additional support to complete a ballot paper, you can bring a trusted friend or relative to the polling station to help you. Polling station staff will also be on hand to provide assistance.

What other people can do:

  • Assist you moving around the polling station.
  • Read out the candidates’ names and parties on the ballot paper in order.
  • Explain the voting options to you.
  • Use their knowledge of your communication methods to understand who you want to vote for.
  • Come into the polling booth with you.
  • Mark the ballot paper with your decision, if you permit them to do so.

What other people can’t do:

  • Decide for you on who to vote for.
  • Mark the ballot paper against your wishes.
  • Stop you from voting because you have a disability or require additional support.

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 magnifier.

However, you must not take any photos inside the polling station, and you must inform the polling station staff that you are using your own aids.

Additional support

Please let the polling station staff know if you need any additional support to be able to exercise your right to vote.

For example, if you require:

  • Someone to read out the candidates on the ballot paper.
  • To be shown a large print ballot paper.
  • To use the Tactile Voting Device.
  • Someone to help mark the ballot paper with your decision – either someone who has accompanied you or the polling station staff.
  • To be assisted in moving around the polling station.

This list is not exhaustive, if there are other arrangements that you feel would be helpful to assist you with casting your vote, please contact us on 01306 879198 or electoral.registration@molevalley.gov.uk

If you find it difficult to express that you need assistance verbally, you can print off a My Rights Form https://www.myvotemyvoice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/My-rights-at-the-polling-station-digital.pdf

This is a document that you can complete and pass to polling staff so they can understand the adjustments needed to enable you to vote.

If you choose to do this, please show your My Rights Form to a member of polling station staff as soon as you arrive at the polling station. This will let the polling station staff know your support needs and help you cast your vote.

There are no designated quiet times in polling stations, however, there are peak times when polling stations tend to be busier. For example, before work or school, during lunch breaks, after school pickup and after work.

The peak times tend to be between:

  • 7am and 9am
  • 12noon and 2pm
  • 3:30pm and 6pm

The “My Vote My Voice” campaign supports voting for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. A quick guide to voting can be found on their website https://www.myvotemyvoice.org.uk/voting/quick-guide-to-voting/

If you haven’t been to a polling station before, or if you would like to refresh yourself on what happens when you vote, make sure to watch the videos below to see what it is like to vote in a polling station:

Photo Identification (ID) checks

When you arrive at your polling station, a member of polling staff will ask for your name and address, and check that you are on the electoral register. You will also need to show photo ID. Polling staff will ask to see your ID, check that your ID is acceptable, and that it looks like you.

Read the Voter ID and Voting Easy Read Guide (PDF document) for information about Voter ID and how you can apply for a Vote Authority Certificate if you do not have any photo ID and also more about voting in an election.

Anonymous Voters

If you are registered to vote anonymously, you will be asked to show your Anonymous Elector’s Document (AED) and your poll card.

Face Coverings

If you wear a face covering for any reason, such as a mask worn on medical grounds or a face veil worn on religious grounds, you will be asked to remove it so polling staff can check your photo ID looks like you. You can ask to have your ID checked in private and all our polling stations are equipped with a privacy screen should you choose to have your photo ID viewed in private.

  • Mirror
    • There will be a mirror available in the polling station to allow you to replace your face covering once your ID has been checked.

You can also request that a female member of staff checks your ID. This request will be granted where it is possible to do so.

If you see an accessibility issue at a polling station, please report this to Electoral Services on 01306 879198 or electoral.registration@molevalley.gov.uk
S1R1C1