Voters who have sight loss or visual impairment can get help when voting.
In partnership with the Royal National Institute for the Blind, The Electoral Commission has produced an information sheet to help those with sight loss, explaining how to vote and register to vote and explaining what help they can get.
We have reproduced the text below or the document can be downloaded as a pdf from the Your Vote Matters website. www.yourvotematters.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/226827/FINAL-RNIB-factsheet-UKPGE-2017.pdf
If you want to vote, you must be registered. You can apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or by contacting the electoral services department at your
local council.
The deadline to apply to vote in these elections is Monday 22 May
How can I vote?
You can use the tactile device
Your polling station will have a device that can be attached to the ballot paper. It has a window that can be lifted for each candidate.
To use the device you should:
- lift the window for the candidate you want to vote for
- mark an X
- separate the tactile device from the ballot paper
- fold and place your ballot paper in the ballot box
The polling station staff can explain how to use the device and read out the candidate names in the order that they appear on the ballot paper, and which political party they are representing or whether they are an independent candidate.
You can ask the Presiding Officer for help
The Presiding Officer is an independent person who is in charge of the polling station. You can ask them for help. You can ask the Presiding Officer to read out the instructions on the ballot paper and the names of candidates in the order that they appear on the ballot paper, and which political party they are representing or whether they are an independent candidate.
You can tell the Presiding Officer, in the privacy of the polling booth, how to mark the ballot paper on your behalf.
You can ask someone to come to the polling station with you
You can ask someone to come to the polling station to help you. Your companion must be either a close relative (father, mother,
brother, sister, spouse, civil partner, son or daughter – if they are aged 18 years or over) or a qualified elector. You should ask the
permission of the Presiding Officer to be assisted by your companion. Your companion is required by law to complete a simple declaration. The Presiding Officer must record your name and elector number, as well as your companion’s name and address.
This is just a security measure and will not mean your vote can be identified in any way.
You can use the large print resources
Your polling station will have a large-print version of the ballot paper on display. There will also be a large hand-held copy of the ballot paper, marked ‘sample’, both of which you can use as a reference whilst casting your vote.
You can vote by post or proxy
If you are unable to visit your polling station on the day of the election, you can apply to vote by post or by proxy. A proxy vote is where you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf.
Postal vote applications must usually include the elector’s signature. If you are unable to provide a signature, or a consistent signature, you can request that the requirement for a signature is waived. Your application must include the reason for the waiver request and the name and address of any person who has assisted you with completing the application.
- The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm on 23 May
- The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on 31 May
To apply to vote by post or proxy you must be registered to vote.
The deadline to apply to register to vote is Monday 22 May.
Visit www.yourvotematters.co.uk or contact the electoral services department at your local council to find out more.
Key Information
What elections are taking place?
On Thursday 8 June there will be a UK general election. In this election you elect a Member of the UK Parliament to represent
your constituency.
There is also a by-election to elect a councillor to Ashford Borough Council for the Victoria Ward
How do I vote?
The UK general election uses the First Past The Post system. You will receive one ballot paper. You should mark an X against the one candidate you want to elect to represent your constituency. When votes are counted, the candidate who receives the most votes is elected as MP for your constituency.
You can ask the staff in the polling station to read out the instructions to you.
Where is my polling station?
The address of your polling station will be written on your poll card. You can also contact the electoral services department at your local council to find out.
When are polling stations open?
Polling stations will be open on election day (Thursday 8 June) from 7:00am to 10:00pm. You do not need to take your poll card with you to vote. If you have a postal vote and have forgotten to return it, you can take your completed postal vote pack to any polling station in your constituency before 10:00pm.
What are the key dates?
- The deadline to apply to register to vote is 22 May
- The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm on 23 May
- The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on 31 May
- Election Day is 8 June, 7am to 10pm