Accessible voting

People who work at polling stations (places where you can vote in-person) can help you vote. You can get help from the electoral services teams (the people who run elections in your area) too by speaking to them before the election.

Staff at every polling station can help you vote.

What's available:

• A place to sit if you need one

• Help from staff at the polling station

• You can bring a friend or family member to help you

• You can use your phone as a magnifier

• You can use a text-to-speech app in the voting booth

Getting help to vote

If you need help to vote, you can ask a member of staff or bring someone you trust. You can also speak to your local council before the election to ask for help.

Your vote is private

You have the right to vote privately. Nobody should see who you vote for or use your ballot (voting) paper unless you ask them to, and nobody should come into the voting booth with you unless you ask for their help.

You can ask a member of staff at your polling station for help.

You can also ask your council for help with voting before the day of the election.

Large print ballot papers

There will be large versions of the ballot paper at every polling station.

There'll be one on the wall and you can also ask staff at the polling station for one.

These might make it easier for you to see what it says on the ballot paper and help you to make sure you're voting for the political party or individual candidate you want to.

You cannot vote on the large print ballot paper. You have to use the usual ballot paper.

You can ask staff at the polling station for a large print ballot paper.

Instructions on how to vote

Every polling station will have instructions to help you understand how to vote. You can also ask staff at the polling station to explain it to you.

Tactile voting device

A tactile voting device is a sheet that fits over the ballot (voting) paper. It has raised and braille numbers you can feel, and it can help you vote privately if you're blind or partially sighted. Every polling station should have tactile voting devices.

You can ask staff at the polling station for a tactile voting device and for help using it.

Chairs or seating

All polling stations should have somewhere where you can sit down if you need to.

Magnifier

Every polling station should have a magnifier that you can use. You can ask staff at the polling station for a magnifier to help you read the ballot paper.

Wheelchair-level voting booths

There should be at least one voting booth at wheelchair level in every polling station. You can find out if your polling station has one by asking your council.

Pencil grips

All polling stations should have pencil grips to make it easier for you to use the ballot (voting) paper. You can ask staff at the polling station for a pencil grip if you need one.

Hearing loop

Some polling stations have hearing loop systems. You can find out if your polling station has one by checking your polling station's accessibility information or asking your council.

Audio ballot papers

Some polling stations might have audio versions of the ballot paper. You can find out if your area offers one by asking your council.

Check your polling station's accessibility

Use our polling station finder to check the address of your polling station and what's available, including:

• Wheelchair access

• Ramps

• Accessible toilets

• Parking

• Hearing loop

• Step-free access

Speak with your council before the election

You can speak with your local electoral services (the people who run the election) before election day. They can:

• Make sure you have equipment to help you vote

• Answer questions about your polling station

• Help you plan your visit to the polling station

You can find your council's electoral services contact details on this website.

Right to vote independently

You have the right to vote independently and privately, with support if you need it.

Right to help

You can ask staff at the polling station for help. Staff are trained to help you and respect your vote.

Right to bring someone with you

You can bring someone to help you vote. This can be a friend, family member, or carer. There are rules about who can help you:

• They have to be over 16 years old

• They cannot be a candidate or election agent

• They can only help one voter (except carers helping multiple people they support)

Right to privacy

Your vote is private. No one should:

• Look at you when you're voting

• Tell you who to vote for

• Write on your ballot (voting) paper if you don't ask them to

If someone tries to tell you who to vote for, you can tell the staff at the polling station.

What to do if you have problems

If you have problems when trying to vote, or if you face discrimination when trying to vote:

• Speak to polling station staff

• Contact your local electoral services

• Report it to the Electoral Commission

You can also contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission for advice.

You can vote in-person, at a polling station, or you can vote by post, or ask someone else to vote for you (this is called proxy voting).

Postal voting

Anyone can apply to vote by post.

You have to apply for a postal vote by 5pm on 21 April 2026 to vote by post in the Senedd election. Your ballot (voting) paper will be sent to your address.

This website has a page about postal voting.

Proxy voting

Anyone can ask for someone they trust to vote for them. This is called proxy voting.

You have to apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on 28 April 2026 to vote by proxy in the Senedd election.

This website has a page about proxy voting.

Emergency proxy

You can apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on the day of the election. Emergency proxy means asking for someone else to vote for you after the deadline for a proxy vote has passed.

You can only have an emergency proxy vote if you have a good reason, like being in hospital, or not being well enough to go to the polling station. This reason has to happen after the deadline for applying for an ordinary proxy vote has passed.

The Electoral Commission has a list of reasons why you can apply for an emergency proxy vote.

Contact your local electoral services for emergency proxy applications.

Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections in the UK.

The Electoral Commission writes about accessible voting and your rights. You can see their advice on their website.

Your local council

Elections are run locally by electoral services departments. These are part of your local council.

Contact your local electoral services for help with:

• Registering to vote

• Applying for postal or proxy votes

• Questions about your polling station

• Help with accessibility

You can find your council's contact details on this website.

Disability organisations

Some organisations give help on voting rights and accessibility:

• Scope

• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)

• Sense