Information for Voter with Disabilities

Registering to Vote

Click on the sections below for further information.

To check whether you're registered for voting, email us on electors@eastherts.gov.uk or call us on 01279 655261.

Voting and elections

The method you use to vote is up to you. It may depend on what you find easiest or most convenient. In the UK, there are three different ways you can vote: by post, by proxy, or at the polling station. Click on the sections below for more information. 

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at most elections. This new requirement was applied for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. 

  • To vote in person, voters must be on the electoral register and bring a suitable form of photo ID to their polling station. See our Elections and Voter ID pages for more information. 
  • Find out where your polling station is by using Democracy Club’s polling station finder. 
  • Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm on election day. 
  • All of our polling stations have step-free access. 
  • Staff at our polling station are available to provide help and information.  
  • Disabled voters may take a companion to help them vote at the polling station 

The following equipment is available at polling stations: 

  • A large-scale copy of the ballot paper
  • A magnifying glass
  • A "tactile voting device" - This is a plastic device with embossed numbers and tab windows. It can be attached to a ballot paper to help blind and partially sighted voters to vote independently. 
  • A low-level polling booth
  • Pencil grips

Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you’re not able to get to the polling station.

  • Voters are able to apply for a postal vote online. Paper forms are still available by contacting electors@eastherts.gov.uk or by downloading them from the Electoral Commission website. 
  • You will need to include your National Insurance number, even if this has already been provided on your registration. If you are applying online you will need to upload a wet signature. 
  • Postal votes will last for a maximum of three years, after which you will be required to reapply for your postal vote. 
  • If you apply to vote by post, you will receive your ballot paper through the door at election time. Postal ballot papers are usually sent out two weeks before an election. They must be returned to us by 10pm on the day of an election in order to be included in the count.
  • Completed application forms can be returned as an email attachment to electors@eastherts.gov.uk or posted to: Electoral Services, East Herts District Council Offices , Peggs Lane, Hertford, Herts, SG13 8EQ

You can appoint someone you trust to attend your polling station and vote on your behalf as your proxy.

  • Proxy votes are usually set up for one election at a time.
  • However, proxy votes can be set up for longer periods of time if you can't get to the polling station because of a disability.  
  • Voters are limited to acting as a proxy for two people, regardless of their relationship. 
  • Anyone voting on behalf of UK voters who live overseas may be eligible to act as a proxy for up to four people.
  • Voters are able to apply for a proxy vote online. Completed application forms can be returned as an email attachment to electors@eastherts.gov.uk or posted to: Electoral Services, Electoral Services, East Herts District Council Offices , Peggs Lane, Hertford, Herts,SG13 8EQ

Online resources and easy read guides

Click on the sections below for links to external online resources. 

Click on the links below to be directed to central government resources:

The Electoral Commission's easy read guide to voter ID includes everything you need to know about photo ID from May 2023 English local elections.  

Click on the link below for easy read guides produced by the charity Mencap. 

Click on the link below for information about voting and elections produced for people with sight loss by the charity RNIB: 

Click the link below for a YouTube playlist of British Sign Language videos relating to registering to vote and voting: 

Click the link below for the Electoral Commission's British Sign Language videos relating to voter ID:

Click the link below for a local election practice ballot paper and easy read guide produced by a charity called United Response:

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