Voting and what you need to know
The right to vote independently, and in secret, is a cornerstone of our democracy.
Yet blind and partially sighted people continue to face unacceptable barriers to exercising this fundamental right.
Get involved in RNIB's work to make voting accessible and share our latest research. The more we can increase understanding of how much the system needs to change, the sooner the Cabinet Office may be persuaded to implement the solutions that now exist.
The Elections Bill
You may remember we’ve been trialling new ways to make voting accessible, but now a new draft law – the Elections Bill – could make it much harder to get these changes implemented. With the Bill’s current wording it weakens protection for an independent vote for blind and partially sighted people.
There’s still time to prevent this happening if we all act quickly. MPs will make their decision on the changes in early November. We urgently need to persuade the Government to maintain the existing law, and we need your help to do it.
Nearly 150 years after the Ballot Act accessible voting is still not a reality.
The Ballot Act guarantees the right to vote in secret, yet many blind and partially sighted people are still unable to do so.
Our latest research in to voter experiences shows that just over one in five (19 per cent) blind voters, and less than half of partially sighted voters (44 per cent), said they could vote independently and in secret under the current voting system.
Ask your MP to become an RNIB Champion
Having the support of MPs ensures that the interests of blind and partially sighted people are represented in Parliament. That's why we are asking MPs to become RNIB Champions, to show their support for our mission to remove the barriers that blind and partially sighted people face everyday.
Use our interactive map to find out if your MP has become an RNIB Champion. Just click on the image and it will take you to the interactive map. Alternatively, you can read the map data in an accessible word version.
If your MP is not already signed up, why not take one of our quick and easy actions and ask your MP to become an RNIB Champion today.
MPs - what you need to know
The incidence of sight loss is increasing, making you more likely than ever to meet a blind or partially sighted constituent. We've developed some top tips to support you in your understanding of your consittuents with sight loss to make surer you give them an accessible experience, such as:
- If you’re not sure what support a constituent may need, ask them how you can best help
- Pictures and printed text don’t work for everyone. Remember to offer alternatives in your communications
Turned Out Reports: Access to voting for people with sight loss
Since 2015, we have surveyed blind and partially sighted voters after Local, General and European elections to find out about their experiences. They have continued to report that they face unacceptable barriers to exercising their democratic right to vote in secret.
Read the Turned Out reports