PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
DISABLED PEOPLE AND ACCESS TO POLLING STATIONS (6 July 1992)

That this House notes the conclusion of the Report by The Spastics Society `Polls Apart - Disabled People and the 1992 General Election' that only 12 per cent. of polling stations were fully accessible, that this meant that many disabled people were unable to vote on election day, that others were injured while attempting to do so, further that many disabled people were dissatisfied with the timing of the advertisements for postal and proxy voting and found the forms difficult to fill in and return before the closing dates; and calls upon the Government to introduce new guidance to ensure that polling stations and polling booths are accessible to disabled people, extend 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 in some cases, introduce a rolling register to make it easier for disabled people to register to vote, lengthen the time limits for completing postal and proxy voting forms to allow disabled people to register earlier and vote nearer the election date and carry out targeted advertising campaigns to ensure that disabled voters are aware of their electoral rights.

Sponsored by:
Sir John Hannam (Conservative)