Giving everyone the opportunity to vote
Democracy is a cornerstone of British society, and it is essential that everyone has the opportunity to vote in a manner that is conducive to their personal needs.
The Electoral Commission has identified several groups that are more likely to experience barriers when voting, and 1 of those groups is people with disabilities. The borough of Hillingdon ensures accommodations are in place for people with disabilities to vote in person, by post, or by proxy, so that everyone has an equitable opportunity to vote.
Mencap has written several easy read guides about how to register to vote, how to vote at a polling station, how to vote by post and proxy, and more.
The Elections Act 2022 now allows people with disabilities to have any companion accompany them to the polling station, provided their companion is over 18 years old and is known to the person. Local authorities must also provide specialist equipment to support people with disabilities to vote.
At polling stations, local authorities are required to provide:
- a notice inside and outside the station providing instructions on how to vote
- a notice in each polling booth providing information on how to mark a ballot paper
- 1 large sample copy of ballot paper
- enlarged handheld copy of ballot paper.
We also provide seating, magnifiers, tactile voting devices, appropriate lighting, and more. If you require assistance, speak to the Presiding Officer at the station who will provide assistance to you as needed.
If you think we've missed something off of our list, or if you have had accessibility issues in the past, contact the electoral services office.