Helping you to vote - disabled access and information

At Forest of Dean District Council we want to ensure that the electoral process is as accessible to as many people as possible. This page outlines some of the resources available and the steps we are taking to ensure a wide range of accessibility needs are met.

If you would like to receive information in a different language, or if you have any questions about accessibility, please contact our elections team by emailing elections@fdean.gov.uk or phoning 01594 812638.

Registering to vote

You can register to vote online, by completing a paper form or over the telephone:

Register online on the Government website here
To request a paper form to be sent out to you contact our office by email elections@fdean.gov.uk or telephone 01594 812638. We can produce the form in different accessible ways
To register on the phone please call 01594 812638

To register you will need:

Your date of birth
Your National Insurance number
Your nationality
Your last previous address (if applicable)

There are easy to read, plain text and audio guides to help you with registering to vote below.

Postal voting

You may wish to apply for a postal vote.You can apply online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote or contact our office by email elections@fdean.gov.uk or telephone 01594 812638 and we can get an application form sent to you in the post.

Proxy voting

You may wish to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. This can be a permanent proxy vote or one just for a specific election.

To appoint a proxy for a particular election or referendum you can apply online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.

Not all proxy applications can be applied for online. For more information about different types of proxies please go to https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/how-vote-proxy

If you are unable to download and print applications or need help, please contact our office by email elections@fdean.gov.uk or telephone 01594 812638.

At the polling station

If you are voting in person at a polling station your allocated station will be listed on your poll card letter, which you will receive in the post.

Accessibility at polling stations

Our polling stations are all wheelchair accessible either through flat level access, a ramp or with help from the Presiding Officer
All stations have a wheelchair accessible polling booth
Assistance dogs are welcome

If you would like any further information on a specific polling station, please contact our elections team by email elections@fdean.gov.uk or telephone 01594 812638.

All polling stations across the district will have the following items:

a large print ballot paper
chairs will be provided for anyone who needs to sit whilst they wait to cast their vote or after voting
handheld ballot paper magnifiers
low level polling booths for wheelchair access
pencils will be available with a rubber grip to help anyone with a writing disability like arthritis (you may also bring your own pen/pencil)
tactile voting device which has braille and embossed numbers that correlate to the ballot papers
trained staff who will be identifiable with name badges – who can offer assistance
we encourage voters to bring and use their own personal aids to see and read the ballot paper easier, which could be on your mobile phone or other electronic device

If you require additional support when voting you may bring a companion over the age of 18 or ask the Presiding Officer. They will need to fill out a separate form in the polling station.

What other people can do

Assist you moving around the polling station
Read out the candidates’ names and parties on the ballot paper in order
Explain the voting options to you
Use their knowledge of your communication methods to understand who you want to vote for
Come into the polling booth with you
Mark the ballot paper with your decision if you permit them to do so

What other people can’t do

Decide for you on who to vote for
Mark the ballot paper against your wishes
Stop you from voting because you have a disability or require additional support

If you need any further support, please get in to contact and we will assist in any way we can by emailing elections@fdean.gov.uk or telephone 01594 812638. Write to Elections team, Forest of Dean District Council, High Street, Coleford, GL16 8HG.

If you are voting at a polling station, you will need to bring Photographic ID please see here for more information.