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Accessible voting

Date updated: 2/02/2025

There are many measures in place to ensure that everyone can vote.

Personal assistance

Voters with disabilities are able to choose anyone who is over 18 to accompany them in the polling station to help them vote. They can also ask the Presiding Officer to help them complete their ballot paper. The Presiding Officer must keep your vote secret.

Someone can assist you by:

  • Assisting you in moving around the polling station
  • Reading out the candidates’ names and parties on the ballot paper in order
  • Explaining the voting options to you
  • Using their knowledge of your communication methods to understand who you want to vote for
  • Coming into the polling booth with you
  • Marking the ballot paper with your decision if you permit them to do so

They cannot:

  • Decide for you on who to vote for
  • Mark the ballot paper against your wishes
  • Stop you from voting because you have a disability or require additional support

Wheelchair access

All of our polling stations have wheelchair access. The ramped access may not be through the main door, but it will be clearly signposted from the street and on the map on your poll card.

If it is difficult for you to access the polling station, the Presiding Officer can assist you.

Each polling station has a low level polling booth suitable for use by wheelchair users. 

Wardmote venues are also wheelchair accessible wherever possible.

Voting aids for visually impaired or blind voters

  • Large print copies of the ballot paper(s) is displayed in every polling station, and can be taken into the polling booth. These can only be used as a reference, as the vote must be cast on a standard print ballot paper.

  • Tactile voting devices can be attached to the ballot paper. It has numbered flaps that cover each candidate or option on the ballot paper. The numbers are embossed in black and include braille markings. Presiding Officers can assist voters with this if required.

  • Audio ballot papers will be made available on this website ahead of an election. There will also be links to these at the polling station.

Guidance for voters with a learning disability

My Vote My Voice is a campaign to support voting for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

Visit the My Vote My Voice website to view their quick guide to voting.

This has been produced for voters on the Electoral register, so does not capture the unique voting system used in City of London Ward elections. The Electoral Services Team or the Presiding Officer at the Polling Station can explain these differences. 

Other aids at the polling station

We have the following aids to assist voters in a polling station:

  • a low level voting booth that is wheelchair friendly
  • chairs
  • hearing loops
  • pencils with additional grip
  • large ‘sample’ ballot paper which can be taken into the polling booth
  • large print notices
  • magnifier

Voters with disabilities can also use a text-to-speech app on their phone, a torch or a magnifier that they have to assist them with reading or marking their ballot paper. Let polling station staff know if you're using your own aid.

Ask for a reasonable adjustment

We will also make all reasonable adjustments to support voters with disabilities to improve the range and quality of support.

To request a reasonable adjustment at a polling station in advance of an election please  contact Electoral Services by email or by calling 0800 537 5587.

Other ways of voting

If you would prefer, you can vote by post or appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. Voters with a disability can apply for a permanent proxy vote.