Access to voting: a summary of our survey findings
Our survey findings paint a picture of blind and partially sighted people being excluded from the democratic processes in the UK. Not for any complicated reason but largely down to the shockingly poor provision of accessible information. This is unacceptable in 2014 when it is possible to provide alternative formats cheaply and speedily.
We are shocked to discover that 69% of respondents were unable to vote in secret and independent of assistance. This figure is much higher than we had anticipated. Voting in secret is a fundamental right within our democratic system and yet the majority of blind and partially sighted people who responded were denied that right. This also makes a mockery of anti fraud processes; when so many have to tell another person who they want to vote for but have no way of checking that their wishes are being met. This is not acceptable when there are simple ways of making the voting system more accessible.
But blind and partially sighted people face far wider exclusion from the democratic process. Starting with being excluded from basic information about the electoral system.
Nearly 80% of blind and partially sighted people told us they cannot read all or some of the election information sent to them by their council.
"Not receiving information that I can read leaves me less informed about elections."
Nearly 90% of blind and partially sighted people told us they cannot read all or some of the information sent to them by political parties.
"None of the political parties cared enough to provide accessible information."
"I feel left out. Political parties are not trying to reach out to me like they do for others."
Those who didn't vote weren't just abstaining from lack of interest. On the contrary:
Over half of those who didn't vote said they would have voted if it was easier for them to do so.
Almost half said they didn't vote because they couldn't get to the polling station easily
Only 22% of respondents who voted at a polling station used the tactile or large print templates, yet at least 62% needed assistance but didn't use them. Many reported that they didn't know the templates existed. Others told of how staff did not know how to use them or had the wrong templates available. For some however, the templates worked well and they said their voting experience had improved.
Understandably many are dissatisfied with the current voting arrangements:
82% want new accessible ways of voting to be introduced
45% think the current voting system is not fit for purpose
What next?
We are gathering more evidence from blind and partially voters. We are also meeting regularly with the Cabinet Office and Electoral Commission pressing for improvements to be made. We will feedback our evidence to the Political and Parliamentary Reform Committee. We are also drafting a manifesto for improving the electoral system for blind and partially sighted people. This will set out realistic solutions and improvements that we want government, political parties and local authorities to agree to.
About the survey
The survey ran from 22 May (the day of the 2014 European elections) for 10 days asking blind and partially sighted people about their experiences voting.
82 people completed the survey
67% of respondent are blind
33% of respondents are partially sighted
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