Support for people with a learning disability in General Election 2015

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Dear Craven District Council,

1. Ahead of the 2015 General Election, did the local authority give training to polling station staff around supporting people with a learning disability to vote?
2. Ahead of the 2015 General Election, a) was the local authority aware of Mencap's ‘Easy guides to voting and registering to vote’ (https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/... and b) if so, did the local authority distribute this to relevant local organisations/groups/services?
3. How many voter registration events did the local authority attend/run for people with a learning disability ahead of a) the 2015 General Election and b) the 2010 General Election?
4. Ahead of the 2015 General Election, a) did the local authority receive a fact sheet from the Electoral Commission – produced jointly by the Electoral Commission and Mencap – entitled 'What you need to do if you want to vote on 7 May'; and b) if so, was this distributed to polling station staff?
5. Are all of the polling stations in the local authority area accessible for people using wheelchairs?
6. How many complaints have you received about the accessibility of your polling stations in the local authority area, following the 2015 General Election?
7. Was the local authority made aware of any problems with people with a learning disability voting on 7th May 2015? If so, a) how many people with a learning disability were affected, and b) how many people with a learning disability were stopped from voting?

Yours faithfully,

Vijay Patel

Dorothy Walker, Craven District Council

Thank you for your email requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which I have actioned today. It is our intention to have the information with you by 7 July.
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Dorothy Walker
Administrator
t: 01756 706424
e: [email address]

Craven District Council
1 Belle Vue Square, Broughton Road, Skipton, BD23 1FJ
www.cravendc.gov.uk

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show quoted sections

Andrew Mather, Craven District Council

1 Attachment

Dear Vijay Patel

 

Thank you for your enquiry. Responses are given below under each question.

 

1.      Ahead of the 2015 General Election, did the local authority give
training to polling station staff around supporting people with a learning
disability to vote?

Answer: Training was given to all polling station staff using the
electoral commission training template which included assisting electors
with a disability. Polling station staff also received the Electoral
Commission polling station handbook which also contained guidance on
assisting electors with a disability, including a learning disability.

 

2.      Ahead of the 2015 General Election, a) was the local authority
aware of Mencap's ‘Easy guides to voting and registering to vote’
(https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/...
and b) if so, did the local authority distribute this to relevant local
organisations/groups/services?

Answer: No

 

3.      How many voter registration events did the local authority
attend/run for people with a learning disability ahead of a) the 2015
General Election and b) the 2010 General Election?

Answer: None

 

4.      Ahead of the 2015 General Election, a) did the local authority
receive a fact sheet from the Electoral Commission – produced jointly by
the Electoral Commission and Mencap – entitled 'What you need to do if you
want to vote on 7 May'; and b) if so, was this distributed to polling
station staff?

Answer:  a) No  b) No

 

5.      Are all of the polling stations in the local authority area
accessible for people using wheelchairs?

Answer: No, lack of suitable premises required the use of 2 caravans as
polling stations which were not fully accessible for people using
wheelchairs.

 

6.      How many complaints have you received about the accessibility of
your polling stations in the local authority area, following the 2015
General Election?

Answer: None

 

7.      Was the local authority made aware of any problems with people
with a learning disability voting on 7th May 2015? If so, a) how many
people with a learning disability were affected, and b) how many people
with a learning disability were stopped from voting?

 

Answer:  We were not made aware of any problems with people with a
learning disability voting on 7th May.

 

 

 

Andrew Mather
Member Services Manager

t: 01756 706226
e: [1][email address]

1 Belle Vue Square, Broughton Road, Skipton, BD23 1FJ
[2]www.cravendc.gov.uk
This e-mail, including any attachments, is confidential and intended only
for the attention and use of the named
addressee(s). It may contain information covered by legal, professional or
other privilege. If you are not an addressee,
please inform the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail. Do not read,
copy, use, retain or disclose this e-mail or any
part of it. Its contents do not necessarily represent the views or
opinions of Craven District Council. All reasonable
precautions have been taken to ensure no viruses are present in this
e-mail. Craven District Council cannot accept
responsibility for loss or damage arising from the use of this e-mail or
attachments and recommend that you subject
these to virus checking procedures prior to use.

Please be aware that all communications sent to or from Craven District
Council may be subject to recording and/or
monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.

References

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1. Click to send email to Andrew Mather
mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/