(Is this of interest to Idemia in relation to biometric
recognition?)
New evidence collected by the Electoral Commission, which
includes the testimonials of voters with learning and physical
disabilities as well as people living with mental illness,
highlights that whilst most are happy with registering to vote
and voting at the UK parliamentary general election, not all
voters with disabilities had a good experience and some reported
being left unable to cast their vote.
The Commission heard that some people with a disability were
unaware they could bring someone with them to the polling station
to help them or that polling station staff could assist.
The Commission’s ‘Elections for everyone’
report will be submitted as its response to the Minister for the
Constitution’s call for evidence
Sir John Holmes, Chair of the Electoral
Commission said:
“It is disappointing that we continue to hear about
people with disabilities being unable to vote in secret, or even
turned away from a polling station. This cannot be allowed to
happen in our democracy. Voters with a disability should have
access to the right support to ensure they can cast their vote
with confidence. The Commission will step up its work with the
UK’s governments, disability organisations and everyone involved
in running elections to ensure there are no barriers to
voting.”
People with disabilities told the Commission about
the barriers they face when they want to register to vote and
cast their vote. These include not understanding wording on
election forms, not knowing they can ask for a tactile voting
device and problems inside the polling station such as poor
lighting and lack of space.
The Commission has now recommended a number of
changes to tackle barriers which exist.
Those running elections should:
-
Make sure they understand the needs of people with
disabilities so they can support them and make it easy for them
to register to vote and to vote.
-
Look at ways that they can make registering to vote
and voting more accessible.
Political parties and candidates
should:
-
Make sure election-related information they send is
easy to read and released early enough that people have time to
read it.
-
When they publish their manifestos, make sure
accessible formats are available at the same time so that
everyone has enough time to understand their policy
positions.
The UK’s governments should:
-
Explore different ways that people with
disabilities can vote so they have greater flexibility, such as
a choice of polling station and day to vote on.
-
Make the law clearer as to who a person with a
disability is allowed to take with them into the polling
station to support them in casting their vote.
-
Look into ways to make election forms easier to
understand.
Sir John Holmes added:
“Imaginative ways of ensuring all voters can easily
access their vote are needed. For example, advance voting or
allowing a person with a disability to choose which polling
station they would like to use could make a real difference.
Carers, support workers, electoral staff and candidates should
have better access to appropriate advice and resources to help
anyone with a disability to cast their vote in secret and with
confidence.”
The Commission will continue to work with the UK’s
governments and others to ensure that the registering and voting
process is as accessible as it can be. In addition, we will see
how we can strengthen the guidance and supporting resources we
give to electoral administrators and will work with accessibility
groups on this.
Today’s report can be read on our
website here, along with
summary versions in Easy Read, large print and
audio.
