Polls Apart Cymru 2003

As a move towards a less impeded and fully accessible democratic process, I announce today my intention to support and part fund a survey on disabled access at polling stations during the next Assembly elections in May.

This audit will follow a similar line to that of other access surveys carried out at the last three General Elections that have been given the generic name of ‘Polls Apart’ originally launched by the disability organisation Scope.  The ‘Polls Apart 3’ survey at the 2001 General Election, was jointly undertaken by the Disability Rights Commission following their establishment in 2000.

Although polling stations in Wales have been included in past campaigns and associated research, there has never been a programme specifically aimed at the distinct nature of devolved Welsh democracy. Involving the Assembly in such a survey would show a continued commitment to this issue.

The intention is that the findings of this survey will be published in a report entitled ‘Polls Apart Cymru 2003’.

I am confident that it will indicate a good level of improvement in the disabled access facilities of Welsh polling stations since the Parliamentary elections in 2001.  This would have been assisted by the introduction of the 50% funding of the installation of temporary ramps by this Assembly within the National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2002.  

This will be an important document in assessing those areas that still might require attention and establishing a baseline for the accessibility of future elections to the Assembly.

I believe that this will be a positive step in further highlighting the accessibility issue and have instructed officials to liaise with representatives from the relevant organisations to formalise any necessary arrangements.