Voting in Elections

Support we can offer to help you vote

There should be no barriers to voting for anyone. Everyone should have the right to vote on their own and in secret.  This page outlines some of the resources available and the steps we are taking to ensure a wide range of accessibility needs are met when voting in person.

If you require specific support when casting your vote, please complete this form so that we can identify and provide equipment where possible at your polling station to enable or make it easier for you to cast your vote.

Your allocated polling station will be listed on your poll card, which is usually sent out around six weeks before an election.  Our polling stations are wheelchair accessible either through flat level access, a ramp or with help from the polling station staff.

There are  a number of ways in which electors can be supported at all our polling stations to help them cast their vote:

  • You can take a trusted companion with you to the polling station to help you vote.  They will be permitted to help you in the polling booth should you need them to, and will be asked to complete a form by the polling station staff.

  • You can bring your own pen or pencil with you, although pencils will be provided along with a grip if required.

  • If you are unable to stand for long periods of time, seating will be provided so that you can wait where you are comfortable.

  • Polling station staff are there to help you.  They can explain the process to you, along with reading out the ballot paper to you or marking your ballot paper for you if you need them to.

  • Provision of tactile voting devices, large print ballot papers and magnifiers to assist electors with visual impairments.

  • Provision of low-level polling booths at every polling station.

  • Provision of wheelchair ramps to allow for access to the polling station.

  • Electors are permitted to bring along their own equipment to assist them in voting, such as coloured overlays to place over the ballot papers, or using apps on their mobile phone to assist with reading the information.

  • Assistance dogs are welcome.

  • Trained staff are also available to offer help, support and assistance.

  • In the event that you are unable to access the building, the polling station staff may be able to take the ballot paper out to you.

  • We have produced a Polling Station Support leaflet (pdf, 700kb), which you can print and complete in advance of attending the polling station.  On this, you can indicate what support you may require to help you cast your vote.  You can hand this to the polling station staff on arrival so that they can assist you in the best way possible.


Easy Read Guides and other voting resources

Easy Read guides are available to support voters in casting ther vote.  The Electoral Commission has produced these guides:

Easy Read guide to voting at a polling station (pdf, 1.2mb)

Easy Read guide to voting by post (pdf, 1.5mb)

Easy Read guide to voting by proxy (pdf, 1.6mb)

Learning Disability England has also produced accessible resources and information to help you use your vote or support others to use theirs in the upcoming elections.  These resources include information on registering to vote, how to vote and practice ballot papers.  You can find these resources on their website.