A Cumbrian MP is championing blind and partially sighted people’s right to vote.
Carlisle MP Julie Minns will table a Ten-Minute Rule Bill today, Wednesday January 22.
The Elections (Accessibility for Blind Voters) Bill highlights the barriers facing voters with sight loss as well as the simple solutions available to make voting more accessible.
Mrs Minns said: “It’s been almost three decades since I was privileged to be part of Scope’s Polls Apart report on access to voting for disabled people.
“We made vital progress as a result of that campaign, but the right of disabled people to vote independently and in secret is still far from won.
“That’s why I’m sponsoring this bill to raise awareness of the barriers that still prevent this, as well as the solutions that are readily available to end them.
“The right to be able to vote independently and secret is vital for a thriving democracy. It’s vital we make the act of voting one that everyone can access.”
Although it’s been 150 years since the Ballot Act 1872, which guaranteed the right to vote in secret, new research by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) found that many blind and partially sighted people continue to be denied this fundamental right.
Based on their experiences of voting at the 2024 UK General Election, RNIB research revealed only a quarter (26 per cent) of blind people felt the current system allowed them to vote independently and in secret.
Other statistics showed:
- Only half (51 per cent) of blind and partially sighted people were satisfied with their voting experience at last year’s General Election
- 73 per cent of blind and partially sighted people didn’t know they could request reasonable adjustments from their local polling station to allow them to vote independently and in secret
Anna Tylor, chair of trustees at RNIB, said: “Neglecting people with sight loss of their ability to vote independently and in secret is a breach of basic human rights.
“A secret ballot is key to a healthy democracy. It means people can vote truly independently without fear of anyone interfering with their vote either explicitly or implicitly by others.
“This is something that all voters have a right to, but the practical support is not in place to make it a reality for every voter with sight loss.
“RNIB has campaigned on this issue for many years; the Government has a responsibility to ensure voters have alternative ways to participate when the current system is inaccessible to them.
“It’s evident from our research that blind and partially sighted people’s voting experience won’t improve without significant changes to the system.
“Policymakers and electoral officials must improve voting accessibility, and we’ll be pressing the Labour Government to address the injustice through future legislation on voting.
“We’ll also continue to empower blind and partially sighted people and communities providing useful information and resources so they know they can demand better voting accessibility.”
