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Accessible Elections and Voter Registration

Everyone has the right to vote independently and in secret. London Borough of Bexley has a duty to facilitate reasonable adjustments to make this happen.

Adjustments and assistance currently in place at polling stations:

  • electors are entitled to have someone assist them to vote – please let the Presiding Officer know if you have brought someone to assist you when you arrive at the polling station
  • staff are trained to assist electors who need help – presiding Officers can assist directly in casting ballot
  • staff wear badges indicating their role
  • polling stations are wheelchair accessible
  • low-level polling booths
  • large print ballot papers
  • tactile voting device for blind and partially sighted electors
  • pencil grips
  • A4 Magnifiers
  • easy read Makaton guide to voting
  • BSL video explaining the voting process

Requesting reasonable adjustments

Electors have the right to request any other reasonable adjustments they need to vote independently and in secret. To make requesting a reasonable adjustment as easy as possible, we have created an online form.

Complete the request reasonable adjustments at a polling station form

If you can't complete the online form, please request a paper version by emailing elections.office@bexley.gov.uk or phoning on 020 3045 3615.

Alternative ways to vote

Vote by post

If you don't want to vote in person at a polling station, you can vote by post.

As part of your postal vote, you must normally provide a signature. If you cannot provide a consistent signature, you can apply for a signature waiver. You can do this as part of your online application to vote by post or separately by contacting us on the details below.

Vote by proxy

If you don’t want to go to the polling station or vote by post, you can vote by proxy.

This means asking someone you trust to vote on your behalf in person at a polling station. Electors with a disability can apply for a permanent proxy vote.

Accessible voter registration

London Borough of Bexley also has a duty to make voter registration accessible.

These options are in available to make this happen:

  • large print voter registration application forms are available on request by emailing elections.office@bexley.gov.uk or phoning 020 3045 3615
  • alternatively, you can apply to register to vote by phone using the number above
  • you can also use the details above to request voter registration forms in another language

Voter Authority Certificate

As part of changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, electors must present accepted photo ID at the polling station to vote.

If an elector does not have any of the prescribed forms of ID, they can apply for a document called a Voter Authority Certificate.

View the easy read guide to applying for a Voter Authority Certificate

Tell us about an accessibility issue

If you need to report a specific accessibility issue or concern that you have regarding a polling station or registering to vote, please get in touch with us using the details below.

Further Guidance

Resources from My Vote My Choice For voters with a learning disability

Easy read guides about:

Resources for voters who are deaf or have hearing loss

The Electoral Commission have produced British Sign Language (BSL) videos:

RNIB guidance on voting and elections