ACCESS TO VOTING FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

Early day motion 925, tabled 24 February 2010 by Anne Begg (Labour). Signed by 134 members.

That this House recognises that at the last general election 68 per cent. of polling stations had one or more access barriers that could prevent a disabled person from voting independently; notes that despite disabled people making up a considerable proportion of the electorate, some still find it more difficult to vote than non-disabled people; welcomes Scope's Polls Apart campaign which asks for disabled people to have the same access to Britain's democracy as everyone else; further notes that to ensure that disabled people can take an active and equal role in the life of their community, polling stations, and thus the community buildings they are housed in, must be accessible to disabled people, not just on election day but every day; further notes that although postal voting is an alternative for some disabled people it is also inaccessible to many disabled people; and calls on the Government to ensure that all electors can vote independently, in secret and with dignity.

Signatures by party: Labour 81, Liberal Democrat 33, Conservative 5, DUP 4, Independent 4, Scottish National Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Respect 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.