Disabled Voters

Registering to Vote

If you need assistance with registering to vote, or materials in another format please contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01224 068400 or visit www.votemoray.org

You can apply to register to vote online please visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You will need your National Insurance number to hand. An easy read step by step guide (PDF, 2Mb) is available on how to use this service.

For voters who are partially sighted a large print apply to register to vote form (170 kB, PDF) is available to download from the Electoral Commission website.

The Electoral Commission has published guides with information on how to register and how to apply for a postal or proxy vote in British Sign Language (BSL), Easy read and audio. Braille and audio CD versions of the voting guide are available on request by calling 0800 3 280 280.

Information about Voting

For voters with learning disabilities there is a dedicated website www.everyvotecounts.org.uk/voting/ with clear information about the election process about registering to vote and voting in the polling station.

For care homes, the Electoral Commission have produced guidance and key information about the voter registration system. It provides guidance on how you can support those in your care to register to vote. (Supporting care home residents in Scotland to register to vote (DOC, 460Kb)

The Electoral Commission has published guides on how to complete the ballot paper in British Sign Language (BSL), Easy read and audio. Braille and audio CD versions of the voting guide are available on request by calling 0800 3 280 280.

If you require information about attending the polling place in any other format please contact the Elections Office on 01343 563334 or email elections@moray.gov.uk

Accessing the Polling Station

- Most polling places which have a car park, have a temporary or permanent marked disabled car parking space close to the access door.

- All polling places have either level or permanent/temporary ramps access for wheelchairs. The ramped access may be through an alternative to the main door, this will be sign-posted. Please bear in mind that some polling places may have low door thresholds which may not be suitable for low slung mobility scooters.

If you need more information about access at a particular polling place or have any other queries please contact the elections helpline on 01343 563334 or email elections@moray.gov.uk

Postcode lookup tool - Voters can use the Electoral Commission’s postcode lookup tool to find their polling place and the list of candidates standing in their ward before they go to vote. This is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard.

In the Polling Station

- A low level disabled polling booth will be available in every polling place suitable for use with a wheelchair.

- Large print notices of ballot papers are available to view in every polling station, these can be used as reference, but you must still cast your vote on a standard print ballot paper as required by law.

- An aid known as a ‘tactile device’ is available to enable blind or visually impaired voters to vote without assistance. These devices affix to the ballot paper by sticky adhesive and have flaps which cover each of the boxes with corresponding numbers embossed in black on the surface and accompanied by braille. The number shows up against the paper and is also identifiable by touch. To cast your vote, you lift the relevant flap to reveal the box on the ballot paper and make your mark. The device is then removed from the ballot paper and the ballot paper placed in the ballot box. Please ask the staff at the polling station about this.

- The slot on the top of the ballot box is highlighted with white markings to make it easier to insert ballot papers for those that are partially sighted.

- Assistance from a relative - If you have a disability that prevents you from completing a ballot paper on your own or you need support, you may take a relative to the polling station to assist you to vote. Your companion must be a close relative (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, civil partner; son or daughter if they are aged 18 years or over). Before assisting you, your companion must complete a simple companion declaration form at the polling station to indicate that they have recorded the vote truly and faithfully – please ask the Presiding Officer at your polling station about this.

- Assistance from staff - You can ask the Presiding Officer to assist you, they are legally bound by the Requirement for Secrecy, your vote will remain secret. If you know which candidate you wish to vote for, you must instruct the Presiding Officer, in the privacy of the polling booth, to mark the ballot paper(s) on your behalf.

Other Methods of Voting

If you don’t want to go to the polling station or you are unable to attend in person you can chose an alternative voting method;

Vote by Post

A postal ballot pack will be sent to your address about 10 days before the election. A signature waiver is available on application to those who are not able to sign their own postal vote or can't sign consistently for medical reasons.

Vote by Proxy

You can appoint someone you trust to go to your polling station to vote on your behalf. This is called voting by proxy. Permanent proxy voting is available on application, but you must apply to vote by proxy at least 6 working days before the election. Those appointed as Proxy voters can also choose to vote by post, but must apply in advance around 11 days before the election to do this. They do not need to live in Moray.

Please note that Power of Attorney (POA) does not apply to voting on behalf of someone else, even on a postal vote, you must be formally appointed as a proxy.

For more information about these options or to apply for a proxy / postal vote please contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01224 068400 or via their online contact form at www.votemoray.org