Voting accessibility and reasonable adjustments

Learn about the reasonable adjustments and accessibility options for voters with a disability.

The Equality Act defines having a disability as having a physical or mental condition which has a substantial and long-term impact on the ability to do normal day-to-day activities.

The voting process should be accessible to all voters

We offer a range of support for voters with disabilities to enable them to vote independently or with assistance, including:

Ramps where needed so polling stations are wheelchair accessible
Adapted level polling booth for wheelchair users
Large print versions of ballot papers to view
Tactile and audio voting devices to enable blind and partially sighted people to mark their ballot papers independently
Magnifiers to use when reading guidance or marking the ballot paper
Pencil grips to attach to pens or pencils when marking the ballot paper
Friendly and helpful polling station staff who will make reasonable adjustments where possible.
Audible ballot papers - scannable from within polling stations

Ask for a reasonable adjustment

Every voter should have the right to vote independently and in secret.

However, we know that disabled people including blind and partially sighted people face barriers to voting which include:

Their voting rights not being communicated in an accessible way
Not having the support, they need when registering to vote or voting
Physical, psychological and information barriers when voting at a polling station 
The method of voting - making a cross in a specific location on a piece of paper - being a principally visual exercise.

Under the Elections Act 2022 you have the right to request a reasonable adjustment at a polling station in advance of an election. To do so, please complete our online form or email us at elections@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Our online form will be available here shortly

Find your polling station

The link below will take you to the Democracy Club website where you can put your postcode in and receive details of your local polling station. Information may not be present until nearer an election.

https://wheredoivote.co.uk/

Other ways of voting

If you do not want to go to the polling station to vote, you can vote by post or by proxy - where you select and instruct a trusted friend or relative to vote on your behalf. Voters with a disability can have a permanent proxy vote.

Apply to vote by post - applications must be received by 5 p.m. 11 working days before polling day.

Apply to vote by proxy - applications must be received by 5 p.m. 6 working days before polling day.

Support in the polling station

Voters with disabilities can choose anyone who is over 18 to accompany them in the polling station to help them vote.

They can also ask the person in charge of the polling station, known as the Presiding Officer, to help them fill in their ballot paper. The Presiding Officer is legally bound by the Requirements for Secrecy, and the vote will remain secret.

What other people can do:

Assist you moving around the polling station.
Read out the candidates’ names and parties on the ballot paper in order.
Explain the voting options to you.
Use their knowledge of your communication methods to understand who you want to vote for.
Come into the polling booth with you.
Mark the ballot paper with your decision if you permit them to do so.

What other people can’t do:

Decide for you on who to vote for.
Mark the ballot paper against your wishes.

Stop you from voting because you have a disability or require additional support.

Additional support required

Please let the polling station staff know if you require any additional support to exercise your right to vote, they will be wearing a badge which says either Presiding Officer or Poll Clerk. They are trained to help if you require:

To be shown a large print version of a ballot paper
To use the Tactile Voting Device
To use the magnifiers to increase the size of text on documents
To use a pencil grip to help with a dexterity impairment
Chair/seating if you cannot stand for long periods
To be able to lip read

Wheelchair access

Polling stations have wheelchair access although it may not be through the main door, but it will be signposted. Each polling station has a low-level polling booth suitable for use by wheelchair users.

If it is difficult for you to access the polling station, the Presiding Officer can bring your ballot paper(s) out to you so you can vote and place your ballot paper(s) in the ballot box yourself.

Voting aids for visually impaired or blind voters

A large print copy of the ballot paper(s) will be displayed in every polling station.
A handheld large print copy of the ballot paper(s) will be available to take into the polling booth with you. These are to be used for reference only because the law states that the vote must be cast on a standard print ballot paper.
Tactile Voting Device – every polling station has a tactile voting device which can be attached to the ballot paper. It has numbered flaps that cover each candidate or option on the ballot paper. The numbers are embossed in black and include braille markings. To cast a vote, the relevant flap should be lifted to enable the voter to make a mark against the desired candidate or option. The device is then removed from the paper, and the ballot paper can be put into the ballot box.
Audio voting system – the McGonagle reader is an audio tactile device designed to support blind and partially sighted people to vote independently. It has embossed flaps that cover each candidate or option on the ballot paper. Each flap folds back onto a button that reads each candidate in turn to the voter. To cast a vote, the relevant flap should be lifted to enable the voter to make a mark against the desired candidate or option. The device is then removed from the paper, and the ballot paper can be put into the ballot box. There are 3 audio readers in Milton Keynes, if you would like to use one of the Audio readers you will need to complete a request through the ‘MKCC form to request reasonable adjustment form’
Braille ballot papers – these ballot papers will only be available in the Central Voting Hub in Midsummer Place shopping centre.

In addition to this, voters with disabilities are allowed to use any text-to-speech apps, torch or magnifier that they have on their phone to assist them with reading their ballot paper. Voters using one of these apps should inform the polling station staff.

Guidance for voters with a learning disability

There is more information about voting available on Mencap's website.

They also have an easy read guide for voting at a polling station