Turned Out 2017 Appendix: Access to voting in the General Election 2017 unfiltered survey data

Question 1. Are you blind or partially sighted?

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
I am blind (severely sight impaired) / 59.5% / 284
I am partially sighted (sight impaired) / 30.4% / 145
I am neither blind nor partially sighted / 10.1% / 48

Answered question: 477

Question 2. Couldyou read the election information your local council sent to you, such as polling cards?

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
Yes I could read all of the information / 21.7% / 88
I could read some of the information / 31.3% / 127
I couldn't read any of the information / 41.1% / 167
I didn’t receive any information / 3% / 12
I'm not aware I received any information / 3% / 12

Answered question: 406

Question 3. Could you read the information from political parties sent to you such as leaflets about candidates?

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
I could read all of it / 11.7% / 47
I could read some of it / 38% / 153
I could not read any of it / 41.4% / 167
I didn't receive any information / 5% / 20
I'm not aware I received any information / 4% / 16

Answered question: 403

Question 4. Comments

This question is a free text comments box for question 3. This data is not included in this appendix.

Question 5. Did you vote (or attempt to vote) in any part of this year's election?

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
Yes / 98.1% / 404
No / 1.9% / 8

Answered question: 412

Question 6. Please tell us if any of the reasons below contributed to you not voting, you can tick all that apply

Answer options / Response count
I didn't know where to vote / 3
I couldn't get to the polling station easily / 1
I couldn't vote in secret / 2
The ballot paper wasn't accessible / 2
I don't feel engaged with or represented in politics / 3
I was too busy / 0
I would have liked to have voted if it was easier / 5
Other (please specify) / 3

Answered question: 7

Question 7. How did you attempt to cast your vote?

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
Postal vote / 34.4% / 139
Polling station / 64.9% / 262
Proxy vote / 0.7% / 3

Answered question: 404

Question 8. Which best describes your experience of voting with a postal vote?

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
I used a low vision aid (such as magnifier, additional reading aid or CCTV to cast my vote) / 40.3% / 56
Another person helped me to vote / 46.8% / 65
I voted independently of low vision aids or assistance from a person / 12.9% / 18
I wasn't able to vote / 0.0% / 0

Answered question: 139

Question 9. Comments

This question is a free text comments box for question 8. This data is not included in this appendix.

Question 10. Which best describes your experience of voting at the polling station? Please tick all that apply

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
I voted using the large print template for reference / 11.5% / 29
I voted using the tactile template for reference / 26.1% / 66
I voted with assistance from acompanion / 28.5% / 72
I voted with assistance from a member of staff from the polling station / 31.2% / 79
I voted without assistance / 26.9% / 68
I was not able to vote / 0.4% / 1
Other (please specify) / 12.3% / 31

Answered question: 253

Question 11. Comments

This question is a free text comments box for question 10. This data is not included in the appendix.

Question 12. Please let us know why you chose a proxy vote

The data from this free text comments box is not included in this appendix.

Question 13. Would you say that the current voting system allows you to vote without assistance and in secret?

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
Yes / 26% / 102
No / 45.4% / 178
Partially - I needed assistance but my vote would still be secret / 28.6% / 112

Answered question: 392

Question 14. Which statement(s) best describes your opinion of the UK's current voting system? You can tick as many as you like.

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
The current voting systems enable me to vote independently and in secret, so for me they are fit for purpose / 18.3% / 73
The current system is not perfect but I did manage to cast my vote independently and in secret / 33.5% / 134
The current voting systems did not enable me to cast my vote independently or in secret and for me are not fit for purpose / 34.5% / 138
The large print sample ballot paper and / or tactile template worked ok and did meet my needs / 9% / 36
The large print sample ballot paper and / or tactile template did not work properly and did not meet my needs / 11.8% / 47
I think new accessible ways of voting are needed (like telephone, electronic and online voting) / 54.3% / 217
We should not make changes; things are fine as they are / 3.5% / 14
Other (please specify) / 14.5% / 58

Answered question: 400

Question 15. Please tell us which age group you fitinto

Answer options / Percentage / Response count
18 - 34 / 16.5% / 64
35 - 44 / 15.7% / 61
45 - 54 / 18.3% / 71
55 - 64 / 24.7% / 96
65 - 74 / 15.2% / 59
75+ / 8.0% / 31
Prefer not to say / 1.8% / 7

Answered question: 389

Skipped question: 88

The full report is available to download in Word and APDF at rnib.org.uk/voting.

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