All services
  1. Home
  2. Councillors and democracy
  3. Elections and voting

Accessibility at polling stations

Everyone should be able to register and cast their vote without facing barriers. They should be able to vote on their own and in secret.

Disabled voters can choose anyone over 18 to help them vote. You can also ask the Presiding Officer to help fill in your ballot paper. They are legally bound by the requirement for secrecy and your vote with remain secret.

We will take all reasonable steps to support voters with disabilities.

There are no designated quiet times in polling stations. Polling stations tend to be busier in the morning before school or work, and in the late afternoon and early evening. These busy times are typically between:

  • 8am and 11am
  • 4pm and 9pm

Accessing the polling station

All polling stations are visited and assessed for accessibility.

Temporary ramps are put in place to support access for voters who use a wheelchair or have difficulty using steps if needed.

The ramped access may not be through the main door, but it will be clearly signposted.

If it's difficult for you to access the polling station, the Presiding Officer can help you. They can bring a ballot paper out to you. Once you've voted, fold the ballot paper and the Presiding Officer will take it to the ballot box.

Polling stations are used (where possible) that have car parks which allow disabled voters to park as close as possible to the entrance.

Information for voters

We provide the following at each polling station:

  • Instructions on how to vote at the election (inside and outside the station)
  • How to mark the ballot paper at the election in each polling booth
  • Large-print sample copies of the ballot paper to assist voters who are visually impaired, you can use these as a reference

Support

Every polling station will have:

  • a chair or seating for voters who cannot stand for long periods
  • magnifiers to increase the size of text on a document
  • tactile voting device to support those visually impaired to mark their vote in the correct place
  • at least one polling booth at wheelchair level - every polling station has a low-level polling booth - the height to the desk is suitable for most wheelchair users and people of short stature
  • badges which clearly identify polling station staff who can help (e.g. Presiding Officer and Poll Clerk)
  • pencil grips to help voters with dexterity impairments to more easily hold and use a pencil

In addition, the Returning Officer also lets you use any text-to-speech apps, torch or magnifier on your phone to assist you in reading your ballot paper.

Help from a companion

If you have a disability that prevents you from completing a ballot paper on your own, you can bring someone with you to the polling station. Your companion must be 18 years or older on election day.

At the polling station they must ask the Presiding Officer for a companion declaration form. This is to state they have recorded your vote truly and faithfully.

Other ways to vote

You can also apply to vote by post or have a proxy vote where someone you nominate votes on your behalf. Find out about different ways to vote.

Ask for a reasonable adjustment

To ask for a reasonable adjustment at your polling station you can:

The Returning Officer will then consider your request and get back to you.

My Vote My Voice

The My Vote My Voice campaign aims to make voting accessible to everyone.

Last updated 01 September 2026