UK General Election: Accessibility information for those with sensory impairments

Find out about the different ways voting in the general election has been made accessible for people with sensory impairments.

The right to a fair, equal and secret voting process is crucial for the electoral process in the UK. The outcome of the upcoming general election on July 4 will have a significant impact on everyone, including people with a sensory impairment. However, people with sensory impairments continue to face  challenges with accessibility throughout this process on a regular basis.

Election officials, including returning officers and polling station staff are required by law to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that you can have your voice heard freely and fairly.

RNIB state that “You have a right to request a reasonable adjustment to vote in the General Election. We would encourage you to write to your local Returning Officer or local electoral services as soon as possible, to notify them that you require reasonable adjustments in order to vote independently”.

They go on to advise on some of the support you can receive, such as a tactile voting device (TVD) which can support you to locate the candidates on your ballot paper and mark your preferred candidate. They also advise that “Guidance has also been issued to polling station staff to make it clear that mobile phone apps (such as “Seeing AI” which can use Artificial Intelligence to read out printed text), or video magnifying devices, can be used by blind and partially sighted people to vote as a reasonable adjustment”.

This is also significant for those who are deafblind or have a dual sensory loss. Deafblind Scotland provide similar advice for people with a dual sensory loss, also discussing these adjustments. Additionally, if you require support or guidance with registering and/or the voting process, Deafblind Scotland ask that you call 0141 777 6111.

For people who are Deaf, RNID discuss the ability for everyone to receive postal or proxy votes if they don’t feel confident going in person. They outline the deadlines for registering for alternative ways of voting, including stating that applying for a postal vote closes on Wednesday 19^th June at 5pm, and proxy voter registration closes at 5pm on Wednesday 26^th June. They also provide guidance for candidates to improve the accessibility of their campaigns.

They are also calling for more to be done to ensure that Deaf people have equal opportunities to engage with the political process, and that this will require significant action.

Everyone is entitled to vote, but it must be accessible for all.

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