§ Baroness Gould of Potternewtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice is being given to electoral returning officers to assist disabled people to vote when no accessible polling station can be made available.
§ Baroness BlatchThe Home Office has issued guidance after consultation with SCOPE which sets out the considerations to be taken into account in carrying out audits of polling station accessibility. Acting returning officers are aware that grants are available towards the costs of purchasing temporary ramps where access to a polling station would otherwise only be available by steps. However, any disabled voter who is unable to attend in person at a polling station and who cannot vote unaided may, if he or she wishes, vote from home using a postal vote or by appointing a proxy. A Home Office leaflet,"Don't Lose Your Vote", explains the absent voting system and is available to electoral registration officers for distribution to the public at no cost.