Accessible voting

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Please note that some of the resources available here refer to specific election dates, which may be in the past. However, they are still applicable to all future elections.

Making voting accessible

Voting in local and general elections should be accessible to you, whether you choose to vote at a polling station or in another way (for example by post).

Under the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) we are obliged to make any reasonable physical adjustments to polling stations to make them accessible to people with disabilities. Polling stations used in West Lindsey are assessed to ensure thy are accessible to people with disabilities as far as is possible within the limitations of the buildings which are available for use in the area. If you find any problems on the day of the election, please make the Presiding Officer aware, or alternatively contact Electoral Services either by phoning 01427 676576 or email ereg@west-lindsey.gov.uk.

If you are voting in person in a polling station and need assistance, please ask the polling staff who will be happy to help. You will be able to tell who polling staff are as they will be wearing a lanyard and an ID badge with their name on.

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Ways to vote

If you find it difficult to get to your polling station, you can vote in a different way.

Voting by post

If you apply in time, you can vote by post. A ballot paper pack will be sent to you approximately 10 days before the date of the election. Fill out the ballot paper pack and return it to us before 10:00pm on the day of the election.

For more information about postal voting, please see our postal voting page.

Voting by proxy

If you apply in time, you can ask someone to vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote or voting by proxy. The person you ask (sometimes referred to as your proxy) must agree to go to your polling station on the election day and vote on your behalf. They must not have agreed to act as a proxy for more than four people, of which no more than two can be domestic electors (domestic electors are those who are neither service voters, nor overseas electors). A poll card will be sent to your proxy telling them which polling station to go to.

For more information about proxy voting, please see our proxy voting page.

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Blind or visually impaired voters

All polling stations will provide an A4 magnifier, a tactile voting device, display a large copy ballot paper and have a large print display version of the ballot paper which can be taken into the polling booth to assist you in filling out the ballot paper. This makes it easier to vote without another person's help if you are blind or visually impaired. You can ask polling station staff to read the list of candidates and their details to you.

If you wish, you can also take your phone into the polling booth and use magnifier, torch or text-to-speech apps to help you vote.

If you would prefer someone else to complete the ballot paper for you, you may take a companion to the polling station or ask the Presiding Officer to mark it for you. The companion must be aged 18 years or over, and they would need to a complete a simple declaration that the polling staff will give to them.

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Deaf voters

The Electoral Commission have worked with the British Deaf Association to create a series of BSL videos for deaf voters which can be found on their YouTube channel.

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Voters with learning disabilities

Mencap have created a series of mini easy read guides for people with a learning disability, including information on the different ways you can vote and how to vote by post, proxy and at a polling station. The full set of guides can be found on Mencap's election guides page.

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Power of attorney and voting

A power of attorney is a process in which a person gives one or more people – known as the attorney(s) – the legal right to manage their affairs because they are incapable of doing so themselves. A power of attorney does not extend to the electoral process. An attorney has no powers to vote on behalf of another person unless they have been appointed proxy on a form signed by the person.

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Voting information in alternative formats

The Electoral Commission contains information which can be downloaded in large print, various language formats and as audio files.

Mencap's elections page contains guides for voting as well as easy read versions of main political parties manifestos.

United Response has easy read practice ballots and voting guides. Further information may also be found on the rest of their website.

RNIB provides essential information for prospective voters with sight loss.

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The Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. One of its aims is to look at how to modernise the electoral process, including how to make voting more accessible to people with disabilities. Its website contains lots of information about elections and the democratic process, including information with particular relevance to people with disabilities.

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