Accessible Voting in Hounslow
All voters have the right to vote independently and secretly, and we offer a range of support in our polling stations to ensure that all voters can cast their vote independently or with assistance.
Voting at a Polling Station
Our polling stations currently have:
-
Ramps where required, to ensure wheelchair accessibility
-
Adapted polling booths suitable for wheelchair users
-
Large print ballot paper(s) that can be taken into the polling booth
-
Tactile voting devices to assist blind and partially sighted voters to assist in marking the ballot paper independently
-
Pencil grips to attach to the ballot pencil to assist when marking the ballot paper
-
Magnifiers for reading notices or marking the ballot paper
-
Friendly and helpful polling station staff to provide support and assistance
-
Voters with disabilities can use a text-to-speech app on their phone, a torch or a magnifier to assist them with reading or marking their ballot paper. Alternatively, a voter may choose anyone over the age of 18 to accompany them in the polling station to help them vote or may request the help of a member of staff at the polling station.
Other aids at the polling station
Voters with disabilities can also use a text-to-speech app on their phone, a torch or a magnifier that they have to assist them with reading or marking their ballot paper. However, you must not take any photos inside of the polling station. Please inform our polling station staff you're using your own aid.
Personal assistance
Voters with disabilities can choose anyone who is over 18 to accompany them in the polling station to help them vote. Please notify polling station staff if you would like a companion to assist you as your companion will need to complete a declaration form.
Voters with disabilities can also ask the Presiding Officer to help them complete their ballot paper. The Presiding Officer must keep your vote secret.
Someone can assist you by:
-
Helping you move around the polling station
-
Reading out the candidates’ names and parties on the ballot paper in order
-
Explaining the voting options to you
-
Using their knowledge of your communication methods to understand who you want to vote for
-
Accompanying you into the polling booth
-
Marking the ballot paper with your decision if you permit them to do so
They cannot:
-
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
Wheelchair access
All of our polling stations are wheelchair accessible. The ramped access may not always be through the main door, but it will be clearly signposted from the street. If you have difficultly accessing the polling station, the Presiding Officer is available to assist you.
Each polling station has a low-level polling booth designed for wheelchair users.
Voting aids for visually impaired or blind voters
-
Large print copies of the ballot paper(s) are displayed in every polling station and can be taken into the polling booth. These can only be used as a reference, as the vote must be cast on a standard print ballot paper.
-
Tactile voting devices 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. Presiding Officers can assist voters with this if required.
Guidance for voters with a learning disability and autistic voters
My Vote My Voice is a campaign to support voting for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Please visit www.myvotemyvoice.org.uk/voting/quick-guide-to-voting/ to view their quick guide to voting.
There are no designated quiet times in polling stations. However, there are peak times when polling stations tend to be busier. For example, before work or school, during lunch breaks, after school pickup, and after work. The peak times tend to be between:
-
07:00 and 09:00
-
12:00 and 14:00
-
15:30 and 18:00
Other ways of voting
If you prefer, you can vote by post or appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. Voters with a disability can apply for a permanent proxy vote.
To apply, you will be required to submit your signature on the application. If you are unable to provide a signature, or a consistent signature due to any disability or inability to read or write, the requirement for a signature on the application can be waived.
To apply for a postal vote, please visit www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
To apply for a proxy vote, please visit www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote
If you are unable to submit an application online, please email elections@hounslow.gov.uk to request a paper form, as well as a signature waiver application form if required.
Report an accessibility issue
If you have any feedback, questions, or suggestions on making voting more accessible, please contact us by email at elections@hounslow.gov.uk or by phone at 020 8583 2828
