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The Welsh Government is working with a sight loss charity in an effort to improve blind people’s voting experiences.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) recently published a report that found only a quarter of blind people felt the current system allows them to vote independently and in secret.
A series of accessible voting trials will be held in a bid to address this issue.
Wales’ housing and local government secretary, Jayne Bryant, has announced £25,000 funding for the trials, which will look into ways to make polling stations more accessible ahead of next year’s Senedd election.
At the trial events, the Welsh Government, RNIB Cymru and electoral administrators will work with blind and partially-sighted people to test a variety of solutions.
Further trials will follow over the next year, focusing on voters with other accessibility needs.
What is being tested in the trials?
The trials, which began this week in Cardiff, are evaluating various voting solutions, including:
- The existing Tactile Voting Device (TVD), which is a plastic template that fits over ballot papers
- A new tactile ballot paper overlay, which is a card template currently being tested in Scotland
- Audio solutions to assist with ballot paper information
- A mock telephone ballot paper information line
Source: Welsh Government
Hannah Rowlands, who is taking part in the trial, said: “There are so many aspects of my life that, with a little planning and consideration of accessibility, I can do completely independently. Everything from scrolling social media to popping to the shops to choosing a new outfit.
“But voting at a polling station is something that just isn’t accessible to me and so many other blind and partially-sighted people.”
Ansley Workman, director of RNIB Cymru, said: “Unfortunately, under the current system most blind people are forced to share their vote, either with a family member, friend or polling station staff.
“Blind and partially-sighted voters can feel humiliated and let down by the system, and in some cases are not even certain who they voted for.”
Pointing to the RNIB’s research, cabinet secretary Ms Bryant said the issue is “a matter that needs to be taken very seriously”, and added: “Every voter should have the right to cast their ballot independently and in secret and these trials demonstrate our commitment to making elections in Wales more accessible and inclusive for all voters.”
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