Accessible polling stations 

The voting process should be accessible to all voters. We offer a range of support for voters with disabilities to enable them to vote independently or with assistance. To help make polling stations accessible we provide:

• ramps where needed so polling stations are wheelchair accessible
• adapted level polling booth for wheelchair users
• large print versions of ballot papers to view
• tactile voting devices to enable blind and partially sighted people to mark their ballot papers independently
• magnifiers to use when reading guidance or marking the ballot paper
• pencil grips to attach to pens or pencils when marking the ballot paper
• LED touch sensor light to improve lighting in the polling booth
• friendly and helpful polling station staff who will make reasonable adjustments where possible.

View a list of accessibility facilities available at all polling stations

If you do not want to vote at a polling station, you can vote by post or by proxy.

Support in polling stations 

If you are a voter with a disability or require additional support to complete a ballot paper on your own, you can take a friend or relative to the polling station to help you. Our polling station staff will also be available able to help you. 

If you want to, you can take your phone into the polling booth to use magnifier or text-to-speech apps or the phone torch to improve lighting. When using your phone, don’t take any photos inside the polling station as this is prohibited.

You can ask someone to:

• 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
• show you a large print ballot paper
• show you how to use the tactile voting device.

Someone else cannot:

• 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.