Voting accessibility and reasonable adjustments

Everyone should be able to register to vote and cast their vote without barriers. Voting should be accessible to all, allowing people to vote independently and in secret.

Under the Equality Act, a person is considered disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

A disability may be linked to a medical condition, but it does not need to be formally diagnosed. Disabilities can include both physical and mental impairments, whether they are visible or not.

Ask for a reasonable adjustment

Under the Elections Act 2022, you have the right to request reasonable adjustments at your polling station before an election to help you vote independently and in secret.

We would also like to know if you need any support with registering to vote or completing electoral forms, such as postal vote applications or annual canvass forms. This helps us make our services as accessible as possible.

Request reasonable adjustments

Accessing the polling station

The Elections Act 2022 introduced new measures to help disabled people vote.
We want our polling stations to be accessible to everyone, so that all voters feel confident when casting their vote in person. Every polling station in Herefordshire:

• Has been visited and assessed for accessibility
• Has step-free access or a ramp to help people enter and leave the building
• Where possible, has parking close to the polling station for disabled voters.
• Has a clearly signposted entrance. Where disabled access is via a different entrance, clear signs will direct voters to it.

We review the accessibility of all polling stations before each election. To find out about the accessibility features at your polling station, please click the button below.

View a list of our polling stations and information about their accessibility

Support within the polling station

My Vote My Voice has created a polling station passport document to help people with learning disabilities and autistic people prepare for voting. It includes information about the voting process and explains how to ask for support at the polling station.

You can print and complete the passport before polling day and bring it with you when you vote. If you show it to polling station staff, they can better understand any support you need and help make your voting experience as easy and comfortable as possible.

If you need extra support when voting, help is available. Every polling station is equipped with a range of accessibility aids and support measures to help voters vote independently and with confidence, including:

• Friendly staff wearing badges or high-visibility jackets so they can be easily identified if you need help. 
• A chair if you need to sit down while waiting to vote.
• A low-level voting booth that can be used by wheelchair users.
• A ballot box placed at a height that is accessible to wheelchair users.
• Access for guide dogs and other assistance dogs.
• A tactile voting device to help blind and partially sighted voters mark their ballot paper.
• A large-print copy of the ballot paper to view.
• A braille copy of the ballot paper for reference.
• Ballot paper magnifiers in different sizes to make text easier to read.
• Information on how to vote in other languages, where available.
• Support from a companion of your choice. They must be aged 18 or over and eligible to vote in the election.
• Support from the Presiding Officer, who can help you complete your ballot paper if needed.
• Pencil grips to help people who find it difficult to hold a pencil.
• Allowance of text to speech apps, torches or magnifiers on phones to assist in reading the ballot paper

Harry, who works for Mencap and has a learning disability, has shared his own experiences of voting in a polling station.

Alternative voting methods

Everyone should be able to choose the voting method that works best for them. If travelling to or using a polling station is difficult, you can apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote.

Voting in person at the polling station is not the only way you can vote. You may also apply to vote by post or by proxy:

• A postal vote lets you complete your ballot paper at home and return it by post. Find out more about voting by post
• A proxy vote allows a trusted person to cast your vote for you at your polling station. Find out more about voting by proxy

These options can help ensure that you are still able to take part in elections if voting in person is not the best choice for you.

Easy-read guides for voters

Visit the links below for easy-read guides about voting and registering to vote:

• GOV.UK's register to vote guide
• Quick guide to voting - My Vote My Choice
• How to vote in an election - My Vote My Choice