Registering and voting

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. The Elections Act 2022 introduces changes to further assist disabled voters at polling stations.

What's new?

Disabled voters will be able to choose anyone who is over 18 to accompany them in the polling station to help them to vote. You can also ask the person in charge of the polling station, known as the Presiding Officer to offer additional assistance to allow you to complete your ballot paper. They are legally bound by the Requirement for Secrecy and your vote will remain secret.

We will also take all reasonable steps to support voters with disabilities to improve the range and quality of support.

Accessing the polling station 

• All polling stations are visited and assessed in advance in terms of accessibility
• Temporary ramps are put in place to support access for voters who use a wheelchair or have difficulty using steps
• Where possible polling stations are identified which have car parking provision so that disabled voters may park as close as possible to the polling station

Information for voters

To help voters understand the voting process and how to mark their ballot paper the following are provided at each polling station: 

• A notice inside and outside the polling station providing instructions on how to vote at the election 
• A notice in each polling booth providing information on how to mark the ballot paper at the election 
• Large print sample copies of the ballot paper displayed inside the polling station to assist voters who are partially sighted and also voters who would like some time to look at the ballot paper before entering the polling booth 
• An enlarged hand-held copy of the ballot paper. This can be given to voters who are partially sighted to take into the polling booth for reference when marking their ballot paper

Support within the polling station

Polling stations will have the following equipment and support in place: 

• Chairs or seating for voters who cannot stand for long periods 
• Magnifiers to increase the size of the text on a document 
• Tactile voting device to support those visually impaired to mark their vote on the ballot paper in the correct place. 
• Polling booth at wheelchair level to ensure voters who use a wheelchair are able to access a lower writing surface and cast their vote in secret in a booth that is accessible 
• Badges which clearly identify polling station staff who can assist 
• Pencil grips are available for voters with dexterity impairments, these make pencils more easy to hold 
• Additional staff to assist voters where needed 
• Staff at the polling stations are there to help if you are unsure how to complete your ballot paper 

In addition to the above, the Returning Officer also allows voters with disabilities to use any text-to-speech apps, torch or magnifier that they have on their phone, to assist them in reading their ballot paper.

As shown in this film, for some elections you use a cross (X) and others use numbers.

Non-English speakers

The ballot paper cannot be printed in languages other than English. However, there are guidance notes in other languages. These are be available in the polling station.

Registration and postal voting leaflets are available to order in a number of different languages from the Electoral Commission website.

Get in touch

To ask for a reasonable adjustment at your polling station, share ideas or provide feedback you can send us an email at elections@southlanarkshire.gov.uk