Under the Elections Act 2022, individuals have the right to request a reasonable adjustment at a polling station in advance of an election.
You can request a reasonable adjustment via our contact form (insert link) or by phoning our helpline on 020 8430 2000. Please do this as soon as possible before elections take place to enable sufficient time for your request to be considered.
Visual Impairment
Changes in recent legislation have made Returning Officers responsible for enabling blind and partially sighted voters to mark a ballot paper independently, in secret and with confidence. Voters can now cast their vote independently using several voting aids available at our polling stations. Polling station staff can explain how to use it.
- McGonagle Reader
The McGonagle Reader has been rigorously tested by NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) and most recently by RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) at the General Elections.
The device works by using a template overlay and an integrated audio player to guide the voter through the ballot process.
- The voter presses a button to hear an audio recording of the entire ballot paper.
- The voter chooses a candidate and opens the corresponding aperture on the template.
- The voter presses a button within the opened aperture, which will read the selected candidate's name.
- If the selection is correct, the voter can mark a cross within the open aperture.
Click here to see demo
We have a limited supply of audio voting devices, so we recommend that you request it before polling day.
If you make a request at your polling station on election day, you may have to wait if someone else is already using it.
Accessibility Equipment Request We will send you a confirmation as soon as we can.
- Traditional Tactile Voting Devices
The Tactile Voting Device is fixed to the ballot paper. Each candidate is numbered on the tactile device with the first candidate on the ballot paper numbered 1.
The numbers are embossed in braille on the device so the elector can identify the candidate(s) of their choice by touch. Next to each number is a flap that can be opened.
This is positioned directly above the box in which the vote is cast for the candidate.
- Large print
Large print versions of ballot papers are available in every polling station.
These can be used as a reference. By law, you must cast your vote on a standard sized ballot paper.
- Text to speech apps
Voters with disabilities are welcome to use text-to-speech apps or other assistive equipment as required to read documents to help them to mark their ballot paper.
- Magnifying glasses
Magnifying glasses are available at all polling stations.
Accessibility
All polling stations are wheelchair accessible, and we provide ramps where needed. In addition to this, all polling stations have a polling booth adapted for wheelchair users.
Our staff are available to assist with access in and out of the station.
Assistance with voting
If you are a disabled voter and you need support to complete a ballot paper on your own, you can take a friend or relative to the polling station to assist you but they cannot vote for you.
The presiding officer at the polling station can help you fill in your ballot paper.
In no other circumstances can someone assist you when you are voting. Remember, it’s your vote and only your vote.
Alternatives to voting in a polling station
If you don't want to go to the polling station to vote, you can vote by post, and voters can apply for a proxy vote on medical grounds.
