National Assembly for Wales Elections

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Electoral Commission Committee – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 24 June 2002.

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Photo of Alan Beith Alan Beith Liberal Democrat, Berwick-upon-Tweed 2:30, 24 June 2002

I shall certainly put the hon. Gentleman's suggestion to the commission, but it should be borne in mind that a long-standing legal requirement exists that, so far as is practical, all electors should have reasonable facilities for voting, and, in particular, that local authorities should designate as polling stations only places that are accessible to disabled voters. Indeed, there is a widespread feeling in the House that every polling station should, if possible, be fully accessible to the disabled. However, when a polling station is changed or removed, local electors can petition against that development, and the Electoral Commission has the power to require the local authority concerned to reinstate the polling station. However, to date no such petitions have been received.