Accessibility in polling stations

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.

What to expect at a polling station

There will be notices inside and outside the polling station.

These will be:

• how to vote at this election – pictorial and written guidance
• accessible voting for all

There will also be a poster outside with information about tellers. Tellers are people from political parties who count the number of people voting.

When you go inside the polling station, there will be notices on the wall, including:

• posters of the ballot paper
• the names of the streets at the polling station – this will help you check that your street name is on the list
• information about what voter identification can be used
• no photography
• no smoking

Each polling booth will have information about how many people you can vote for on the ballot paper.

Accessibility tools and materials

Materials will be available in polling stations to help people to vote independently – these will be laid out on a table. 

Large print ballot paper poster

This is a poster of the ballot paper so that you can read the names of the candidates in the order they appear on the ballot paper.

Handheld ballot papers

This is a large, laminated copy of the ballot paper. You can hold so you can read the names of the candidates in the order they appear on the ballot paper.

An audio recording of the ballot paper

There will be a QR code in the polling station that you can scan to listen to an audio recording of the ballot paper. You will need a smartphone to scan the QR code. If you do not have a smartphone, the polling station staff can read the ballot paper to you.

Doorbells

Sometimes the doors to the polling station are not able to be kept open. If you ring the doorbell, this will alert the polling station staff that you have arrived and they will open the doors for you.

Magnifiers

This is to help you enlarge any text on the ballot papers and any forms you may have to complete.

Tactile voting devices

This is a device with braille on it that can be attached to the ballot paper to allow blind and visually impaired people to vote independently.

Wheelchair-accessible booth

There will be a low-level wheelchair-accessible booth in every polling station.

Pencil grips

These can be put on a pencil to make them easier to hold.

Chairs

There will be additional chairs for anyone who may need them.

Ramps

We have installed ramps to ensure all polling stations are accessible.

How to vote

All polling station staff will have a bright yellow lanyard on to identify them – they will be there to assist you.

When you are inside the polling station, please go to the table. The polling station staff will be waiting to help you. At busy times there may be a queue so please wait for your turn.

You now need to show identification to the polling station staff. A member of the polling station team will ask you for your voter ID – see our Voter ID page for more information.

Polling station staff will then ask you for your name and address. They will check that you are on the electoral register and entitled to vote. They will then issue you with a ballot paper(s).

The number of candidates that you can vote for changes depending on the election. The ballot paper will tell you how many candidates you can vote for. You can also ask the polling station team to confirm for you.

Once in the polling booth, mark a cross in the box next to the candidate(s) name you would like to vote for. You can ask for help from the Presiding Officer or have a companion assist you with voting. Your companion must be 18 years or older on election day. They will need to complete a companion declaration form.

When you have marked your ballot paper, please fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box next to the polling station staff’s table. If you make a mistake or change your mind, then the polling station team can help you.

Please let the team know if you need any more time or if you have any questions.

If you need more information about voting, here are some websites that might be useful:

• Voting and elections: what you need to know – RNIB
• Elections – Mencap
• A Makaton guide to voting at a polling station (pdf, 20 page(s), 573.92 KB)