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 01343 541203 or visit www.votemoray.org

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.

In addition Mencap have produced a resource pack to help people with a learning disability and their support workers to understand what voting is, why it is  important, and how you can vote.(Mencap Resource Pack, 1.3Mb, PDF)

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. (Electoral Commission Care Home guidance 456Kb MS Word)

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

At the Polling Station

• All polling places have either level or ramped access. The ramped access may be through an alternative to the main door, this will be signposted.
• 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.
• Assistance from a relative - If you have a disability that prevents you from completing a ballot paper on your own, 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 16 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.

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 election.enquiries@moray.gov.uk

Other Methods of Voting
If you don’t want to go to the polling station or do not feel that you can attend in person you can chose to vote by post. A postal ballot pack will be sent to your address about 11-14 days before the election. A signature waiver is available on application to those who are not able to sign their own postal vote.

If you are registered to vote, but will be unable to get to a polling station to vote, 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. Proxy voters can also choose to vote by post, but must apply in advance around 11 days before the election to do this.

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 01343 541203.