Elections Bill

Written evidence submitted by Royal National Institute of Blind People, Age UK, Business Disability Forum, Leonard Cheshire, Sense & Royal National Institute for Deaf People (EB07)

Joint statement on the Elections Bill

We come together today as a group of organisations representing disabled people concerned about the proposed wording of the Elections Bill.

While we support efforts to improve accessibility for everyone, changes to benefit other disabled voters do not need to replace provisions provided for blind and partially sighted people.

Current wording of the Elections Bill replaces sub-paragraph (b) below:

"(3A) The returning officer shall also provide each polling station with-

...

(b) a device of such description as may be prescribed for enabling voters who are blind or partially-sighted to vote without any need for assistance from the presiding officer or any companion.

With

(b) such equipment as it is reasonable to provide for the purposes of enabling, or making it easier for, relevant persons to vote in the manner directed by rule 37.

Where ‘relevant persons’ are voters who are disabled or blind or partially sighted.

We see no reason why wording to allow blind or partially-sighted people to ‘to vote without any need for assistance’ using adaptations prescribed by Government should not be maintained given the fundamental and unique challenges blind and partially sighted people face in casting a vote.

Returning Officers must already offer reasonable adjustments to disabled voters under the Equality Act. If this clause is to be included in legislation, it should be introduced as an addition, not a replacement at the expense of guarantees for blind and partially sighted people.

Signed,

Royal National Institute of Blind People

Age UK

Business Disability Forum

Leonard Cheshire

Sense

Royal National Institute for Deaf People

 

30th September 2021