Local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections will take place in Plymouth on Thursday 2 May and we are working with the Electoral Commission on a pilot to ensure that people with learning disabilities and autism can understand and feel part of the voting process.
Improvements are being made at polling stations to ensure that voters with a range of needs can understand who to go to for help, such as staff identification badges with additional information about how they can support people.
We've also held a session to help people understand what the voting process involves and what to expect.
The session explained the role of a city councillor and the Police and Crime Commissioner and why it’s important for everyone to have their say when these elections take place.
It also set out the voting process and requirements, such as the need for voter ID, in easy-to-understand terms. It explained what is accepted as voter identification as well as how to place your vote.
We liaised with local support groups to encourage those with learning disabilities and autism to attend the session, which also included a mock polling station with a ballot box so people know what to expect when they arrive on polling day.
Council Chief Executive and returning officer Tracey Lee said: “We’re really pleased to be working with the Electoral Commission to help those with learning disabilities and autism to have their say in the upcoming elections. We hope the session and the small changes we are making at our polling stations will make it easier for them to understand the process and ask for help if there’s anything that isn’t clear for them.”