Assistance with voting for persons with disabilities
9Assistance with voting for persons with disabilities
(1)Schedule 1 to RPA 1983 (Parliamentary elections rules) is amended as follows.
(2)In rule 29 (equipment of polling stations)—
(a)in paragraph (3A), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—
“(b)such equipment as it is reasonable to provide for the purposes of enabling, or making it easier for, relevant persons to vote independently in the manner directed by rule 37 (including in relation to voting secretly).”;
(b)after paragraph (3A) insert—
“(3B)In this rule, “relevant persons” means persons who find it difficult or impossible to vote in the manner directed by rule 37 because of—
(a)blindness or partial sight, or
(b)another disability.”;
(c)after paragraph (7) insert—
“(8)The Electoral Commission must give guidance to returning officers in relation to the duty imposed by paragraph (3A)(b).
(9)Before giving guidance under paragraph (8), the Commission must consult such persons, including bodies representing the interests of relevant persons, as they consider appropriate.
(10)In performing the duty imposed by paragraph (3A)(b), a returning officer must have regard to guidance given under paragraph (8).”
(3)In rule 39 (voting by persons with disabilities)—
(a)in paragraph (2)(b)(i), for “is a qualified person within the meaning of this rule” substitute “is aged 18 or over”;
(b)in paragraph (3), omit the words from “and a person” to the end.
(4)In the Appendix of Forms, in the form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with disabilities—
(a)for the words from “[I am entitled” to “18 years],” substitute “I am aged 18 or over”;
(b)omit “* State the relationship of the companion to the voter.”
(5)In section 5 of PPERA (reports on elections etc), after subsection (2A) insert—
“(2AA)Subsection (2AB) applies where a report under this section relates to—
(a)a parliamentary general election,
(b)a parliamentary by-election,
(c)an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners,
(d)an election held under section 51 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (election to fill vacancy in office of police and crime commissioner), or
(e)a Northern Ireland Assembly general election.
(2AB)The report must include a description of the steps taken by returning officers to assist relevant persons (within the meaning of rule 29 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983) to vote at the election.”