Disabled access to polling stations criticised

Published on Sunday 20 June 2010 22:22

FACILITIES at polling stations for disabled people during the 2010 General Election campaign have been criticised in a new report.

The disability advocacy charities Capability Scotland and Scope found that poor access was the biggest problem, prompting a call for the Scottish Government to introduce internet and text voting.

Research carried out by the charities showed that 67 per cent of polling stations across the UK had one or more significant access barriers.

In Scotland, 52 per cent had no designated parking for disabled voters and 43 per cent had no level access.

Scotland also had three times the amount of poorly designed ramps, 68 per cent compared with 22 per cent in the UK.

One wheelchair user from the Highlands was forced to vote in his car because there was no access for him to the polling station, the survey said.

The entrance had steps but, even if a ramp had been provided, it would have been too narrow for a wheelchair.

Susie Fitton, senior policy adviser at Capability Scotland, said: "Disabled people are highly motivated to turn out and vote but the electoral system in Scotland still puts unnecessary barriers in their way.

"There was a national outcry after potential voters were turned away from polling stations at this year's General Election. Yet our fifth Polls Apart survey shows disabled people are still being turned away from polling stations despite measures apparently being put in place to address the problems."

Capability Scotland wants the Government to allow voting by internet and text. It also wants returning officers to publish the accessibility of polling stations ahead of the next election.

The charity is campaigning for all polling stations to be made accessible to all disabled people.