The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Amendment) Rules 2001

8.—(1) Rule 23 (equipment of polling stations) is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph (3) insert:

“(3A) The returning officer shall also provide each polling station with—

(a) at least one large version of the ballot paper which shall be displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted; and

(b) a device of such description as is set out in paragraphs (6) to (11) below for enabling voters who are blind or partially sighted to vote without any need for assistance from the presiding officer or any companion (within the meaning of rule 33(1)).”.

(3) After paragraph (5) insert:

“(6) The device referred to in paragraph (3A)(b) above must be capable of being attached firmly to a ballot paper and of being removed from it after use without damage to the paper.

(7) On the right-hand side of the device there shall be tabs of equal size which satisfy the conditions in paragraphs (8) to (11) below.

(8) The tabs shall be capable of being positioned on the ballot paper so that each one is above one of the spaces to the right of the particulars of the candidates on which the vote is to be marked (“the relevant space”).

(9) Each tab shall be numbered so that, when the device is positioned over a ballot paper, the number of each tab corresponds to that of the candidate whose particulars are to the left of the relevant space covered by the tab in question.

(10) Each number on the tab shall be in raised form so that it can be clearly identified by touch.

(11) Each tab shall be capable of being lifted so as to reveal the relevant space and so that there is sufficient room to allow a voter to mark a cross on that space.”.