Guidance for Returning Officers - Assistance with voting for disabled voters

This section outlines the information for voters that must be provided at the polling station as well as a list of equipment that we advise should be provided at polling stations to help reduce or remove known barriers and ensure that voting is as accessible as possible for disabled voters.
  
It also highlights further additional equipment that it may be appropriate for you to provide in some polling stations if you have identified a need as part of your anticipatory duty, or are made aware of specific needs of disabled voters via a request for a reasonable adjustment.

Information for voters

To help voters understand the voting process and how to mark their ballot paper you must provide:

• a notice inside and outside the polling station providing instructions on how to vote at the election1    
• a notice in each polling booth providing information on how to mark the ballot paper at the election2      
• at least one large sample copy of the ballot paper must be displayed inside the polling station,3 ideally in a well-lit location where voters can easily see it before being issued with their ballot paper. Large print sample ballot papers displayed clearly in the station will assist voters who are partially sighted and also voters who would like some time to look at the ballot paper before entering the booth
• an enlarged hand-held copy of the ballot paper. This can be given to voters who are partially sighted or on request to any other voter who would find it useful to take into the polling booth for reference when marking their ballot paper.

You must consider whether it is appropriate to make notices more accessible to a wider range of voters4 by providing them in alternative languages and formats, e.g. in Braille, languages other than English or Welsh, in pictorial formats5 or in audible form.6 The Government Communication Service provide guidance on their website about making communications accessible.
 
As well as meeting the minimum statutory requirements set out above, you should also make any additional sample copies and enlarged copies of the ballot paper resources easily available and visible in the polling station – keeping them in full view and clearly marked will help to make sure that voters can access them easily. 

Equipment to support voters to participate 

You have a duty to provide each polling station with such equipment as it is reasonable to provide for the purposes of enabling, or making it easier for, relevant persons to vote independently and in secret.7 We have a duty to give guidance in relation to your duty to provide this equipment.8 You must have regard to this guidance when discharging your duty to provide appropriate equipment but it is ultimately for you as RO to decide the arrangements and equipment that are reasonable to enable or make it easier for disabled voters across your area to cast their vote independently and in secret. 

This guidance aims to support you by highlighting the types of equipment that may help to remove barriers to voting for disabled voters. Factors unique to your local area - relating to the size and scale of polling stations, or specific requirements of your local electorate that you have identified as part of your anticipatory duty, may shape the approach you decide to take.
 
There are various ways that you can proactively build your knowledge and understanding of equipment that might be appropriate to provide and have the most impact in polling stations in your local area to support voters with different disabilities. You should consider:

• proactive engagement with community groups in your area
• using data from within your local authority and the ERO where disabled voters have already been identified, or have made previous requests for reasonable adjustments enabling you to proactively approach them about their voting experience
• working with local NHS trusts and third sector organisations to obtain good practice advice on supporting voters in the polling station and utilising their networks for gathering information on lived experiences and promoting information about the support and equipment available at polling stations
• feedback you have received from voters or polling station staff following a poll
• taking advice on health and safety from experts in your local authority regarding the use of equipment such as ramps and temporary floor coverings

You should use this information to review the equipment that you provide in polling stations as part of your early planning for elections and in your post-election reviews.

Decisions about appropriate equipment should be carefully considered, transparent and regularly reviewed. More information about this can be found in making decisions about providing additional information and support for voters.

You should seek advice from the relevant government department (depending on poll type) about whether any funding arrangements are available.