Letter to the Editor – Blind Voters Count 

Letter for the attention of the Editor sent on behalf of RNIB Cymru’s Director Ansley Workman:

Dear Editor,

We are calling on you and your readers to help make sure that blind and partially sighted people’s right to vote independently and in secret is protected.

A new Elections Bill, currently being discussed by the House of Lords, could deny them this basic right at every UK General Election if it is passed.

Under current law, when we’re attempting to elect our MPs, every polling station must have a device to make voting possible “without any assistance” for voters with sight loss.

The UK Elections Bill is scrapping this guarantee, making getting hold of the right equipment to vote independently a postcode lottery for blind and partially sighted people across the UK.

Removing these protections undoes a generation’s worth of progress in accessible voting for blind and partially sighted people and appears to go against all aspirations around levelling up for disabled people in society. We urgently call on the Secretary of State Michael Gove, MPs and Lords, to maintain existing provisions to enable an independent vote for blind and partially sighted people.

To back RNIB’s petition and join us in calling on the UK Government for change to the Elections Bill, please visit our website www.rnib.org.uk.

Ansley Workman,

Director of RNIB Cymru

029 2082 8500

Jones Court, Womanby Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BR.

For more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Diolch,

Ffion Lewis

Rheolwr Cyfathrebu / Communications Manager

RNIB Cymru

Cwrt Jones, Stryd Womanby, Caerdydd CF10 1BR / Jones Court, Womanby Street, Cardiff CF10 1BR

Ffôn Symudol/Mobile Phone: 07849079940

E-bost/email: ffion.lewis@rnib.org.uk

Wefan/Website: www.rnib.org.uk/cymru / www.rnib.org.uk