The elections team has developed a polling station passport to support residents with learning disabilities and/or autism to vote with confidence in a polling station.
The elections team has developed a polling station passport to support residents with learning disabilities and/or autism to vote with confidence in a polling station.
The polling station passport is an A4 sheet of paper that can be folded into a brochure. Electors can hand the polling station passport to polling staff to help them understand the reasonable adjustments that may be needed to support the elector to vote.
Anyone with a learning disability is entitled to vote as long as they are a registered elector. Electors who are 18, and are British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizens, can vote in all elections that take place.
Electors that have EU citizenship (other than the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus), can vote in most elections, but can't vote in UK Parliamentary general elections.
To pick up your copy of the polling station passport, you can call us at 01702 215010 or email us at elections@southend.gov.uk and we can send a copy to your house. You can also visit your local library or contact Mencap, SAVS, and Project 49 to get a copy of the polling station passport. They are ready for individuals to use in the upcoming Local and Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner Election on 2 May 2024.
The Parliamentary General Election will also be taking place before 23 January 2025, but the date of this election is yet to be confirmed.
The Voter Passport does not replace the need for voters to bring valid photo ID to vote in person at a polling station. Please visit our website for a full list of acceptable photo ID What photo ID will be accepted on polling day?.
If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online or in person at the Civic Centre. To make an appointment please call 01702 215010.The deadline to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate for elections taking place on 2 May 2024 is Wednesday 24 April at 5pm.
The deadline has passed to register to vote in the upcoming elections on 2 May. To register to vote in future elections, you can go online Register to vote - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or call the elections team at 01702 215010 and we can help register you over the phone. If you have any questions or would like us to send a polling station passport to your address, please email elections@southend.gov.uk or call 01702 215010.