Statutory consultation on guidance for Returning Officers: Assistance with voting for disabled people

Consultation has now closed

The consultation has now closed. Once we have considered the responses to this statutory consultation, we will publish the guidance to assist ROs in preparing and delivering the May 2023 elections as soon as we can.

Summary

Summary

There should be no barriers to voting for disabled people. Everyone should have the right to vote on their own and in secret.

The Elections Act 2022 includes provisions requiring Returning Officers (ROs) to provide such equipment as is reasonable to enable, or make it easier for, disabled people to vote independently and secretly. 

Now that the legislation that enacts these provisions is in place, the Electoral Commission is conducting a statutory consultation on our guidance for ROs on the new provisions for assistance with voting for disabled people.

We ran an initial six-week public consultation on the draft guidance, which received 67 responses from members of the public, electoral administrators, and a wide range of charity, civil society and third sector organisations. We have now updated the guidance building on the feedback we received as part of the initial consultation.

We want to hear your views on our updated guidance to support ROs in making accessibility arrangements that can have a real and positive impact for disabled voters for the May 2023 elections and beyond.

Once we have considered the responses to this statutory consultation, we will publish the guidance to assist ROs in preparing and delivering the May 2023 elections as soon as we can.

Alongside this guidance for ROs, we will also be providing additional support as part of our wider guidance and resources for electoral administrators and for voters to help make voting accessible for all.

This consultation is also available in easy read and BSL formats.