Access To Polling Stations For The May Local Elections

EDM number 1732 in 1992-93, proposed by John Hannam on 31/03/1993.

That this House notes recent surveys show that only 12 per cent. of polling stations are fully accessible, that this means that many disabled people will be unable to vote on local election day, and that others will risk injury if they attempt to do so; further notes that disabled people have been dissatisfied with the timing of advertisements for postal and proxy voting and often find the forms difficult to fill in and return before closing dates; and calls on the Government to introduce immediately new guidance to local authorities to ensure that polling stations and polling booths are accessible for disabled people, to increase the current grants available to provide temporary ramping from 50 per cent. of the cost to 100 per cent., and allow this to be used for permanent ramps, lengthen the time limits for completing postal and proxy voting forms and carry out targeted advertising campaigns to ensure disabled voters are aware of their electoral rights in time for the local elections in May.

This motion has been signed by a total of 50 MPs.