The Importance of Accessible Voting In England



In a democracy, it is crucial that every citizen’s voice is equally heard. Yet, a great number of visually impaired individuals in England have a difficult time trying to individually cast their vote or even cast a vote at all. Ensuring accessible voting rights for the visually impaired is not just a legal obligation, as it is a human right mentioned by The Electoral Commission, but a moral imperative. 


Elin Williams has an eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, which makes cells in the retina break down, causing vision loss, and she has stated that she has never been able to privately cast her vote without the assistance of someone. This limited access to private voting has led many visually impaired individuals to abstain from voting at all.


Williams also said, “It can be a bit dehumanizing to be honest,” showing the barriers that the blind face during electoral processes. 


When voting is made accessible, it naturally encourages an increased amount of participation among visually impaired individuals. This increase would ensure that the results from elections are representative of the whole community, instead of only representing those who can vote without assistance. Providing accessible voting to the visually impaired is a vital step towards social equality and a more accessible future for the blind. Also by recognizing the needs of blind individuals, we affirm their right to participate in voting independently and in secret. 


Before the next election, polling stations that are physically accessible to the impaired should be set up, allowing the visually impaired to vote without the guidance or assistance of others. The act of changing voting processes will create a more inclusive society and ensure that all citizens, regardless of their physical abilities, can participate equally in electoral processes.









source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cekk4j3l1lvo

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