Taken from RNIB website https://www.rnib.org.uk/campaign-with-us/support-a-campaign/voting-and-elections/

With local election now set to go ahead across Essex here is a guide from RNIB on what you can expect and request.

All voters have a right to vote independently and in secret, and local authorities have to ensure that polling stations are accessible to people with sight loss.

As a result of the Elections Act 2022, voters are required to bring photo ID to polling stations in order to vote for some elections. If you don’t have any photo ID, there are currently three options. You can either apply for a free voter ID certificate, known as the Voter Authority Certificate; you can apply for a postal vote (where photo ID is not a requirement), or you can apply for a proxy vote (where again photo ID is not a requirement).

Returning Officers – officials who oversee elections – are now required to make provisions for disabled people to enable an independent and secret vote. Returning Officers must follow Electoral Commission accessibility guidance.

To support blind and partially sighted voters, all polling stations are required to have:

• A tactile voting device (TVD).
• A large print copy of the ballot paper for reference.
• Magnifiers
• Additional lighting.
• Assistance from polling station staff to be guided to the voting booth and to mark your vote, if needed.

If in doubt, contact your MP or Returning Officer