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Written question asked by Lisa Forbes (Labour) on Thursday, 24 October 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 October 2019. It was answered by Chloe Smith (Conservative) on Thursday, 31 October 2019 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Voting Methods: Visual Impairment

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure blind and partially-sighted people are guaranteed privacy when they cast votes at elections.

Answer

All eligible voters should be able to cast their vote in secret and the Government through the Cabinet Office chaired Accessibility of Elections Working Group is working to make elections more accessible. This has included working in partnership with the RNIB and Electoral Commission to make improvements to training materials for polling station staff to provide better support to voters with sight loss.

The proposals announced as part of the package around the Queen’s Speech, will bring forward legislative measures that respond to issues raised in the Government’s response to the 2018 Call for Evidence on Access to Elections. This will include increasing the range of support available to voters with sight loss in polling stations, with a dedicated sub-group of the Accessibility of Elections Group Working researching potential solutions. Disabled people including those who are blind and partially sighted will also benefit from an increased range of support that can be provided at the polling station (such as carers).

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
5114
Session
2019-19
Subjects
Visual impairment Voting methods
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk