Campaigns

Accessible voting

Summary: Information about accessible voting and the assistance you are entitled to.

• What you are entitled to
• Further information
• Our campaign
• Your feedback
• General election 2005

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By law polling stations must provide certain levels of assistance to make voting, including postal voting more accessible. Tell us your experience by taking part in our online accessible voting survey.

What you are entitled to

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Polling station

At the polling station there should be a large print example of the ballot paper on display and a tactile template or device to help you to vote. The availability of these was outlined in the Representation of the People Act 2000.

Blind and partially sighted people (and people with other disabilities) are entitled to take a companion with them to assist with voting. (NB companions can only help one other person to vote.) You can also ask the presiding officer at the polling station to help and they can mark your ballot paper for you.

Electoral staff can also help you cast your vote and can mark. They should be able to supply information such as the list of candidates in other formats. However they are not required to do so by law.

Tactile voting templates

Tactile voting templates fit over the ballot paper. It has numbers marked on it in braille and as a raised number. To the right of each number or actually underneath it, is a lift-up flap. You will need to know the number of the candidate you wish to vote for and then mark your “x” in the lift-up flap. The returning officer or your companion can read the names of the candidates and their number to you. The same information should be available on the large print notice.

Further information

The Electoral Commission has a free helpline number to provide information on access to the voting process. Telephone 0800 328 0280.

Our campaign

RNIB believes that everyone should have the right to vote independently and confidentially. We believe that an election should always include more than one method of voting and we strongly oppose all-postal voting. We believe an accessible vote begins with having an individual voter registration process where each person can choose to receive future information in their chosen accessible format.

We are also calling for all standard print voter information, including the ballot paper, to be produced in clear print (including text in 14 point). This would mean that more people could read the standard print version. We also want all information to be readily available in alternative formats and for the Government and local authorities to lead an awareness campaign to tell people about the help available.

The Disability Equality Duty within the 2005 Disability Discrimination Act, which comes into force in December of this year, will mean that local authorities will have to make voting much more accessible in the future. But in the meantime do ask your local authority and especially any canvassers that knock on your door, to give you information about the election in a format you can read.

Your feedback

We are always interested to hear from people about their experience of voting. Please email campaign@rnib.org.uk with your comments.

General election 2005

RNIB’s General Election manifesto 2005 was sent out to all candidates standing for election. It contains information about the priorities for change as voted for by RNIB members. Although this information was produced for candidates standing to be MPs much of it is relevant for council elections.

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13