High Court agrees to hear challenge over voting device for blind people

The High Court has granted permission for a legal challenge brought by Rachael Andrews, who is blind, over the Government’s choice of device to enable blind people to vote without assistance.

Law firm Leigh Day, which acts for Ms Andrews, said judges accepted the case was arguable and allowed it to go to a full hearing.

The government has designated a plastic tactile voting device (TVD) as the official aid for blind voters.

It works by fitting over a ballot paper allowing a voter to mark an ‘X’ against their chosen candidate.

Ms Andrews argues that the TVD does not allow blind people to vote without assistance. 

They can be the wrong size for the ballot paper or unavailable, but even where these problems did not arise a voter would still need help from the presiding officer or a companion to read out the names of the candidates and the order in which they appear, she adds.

Leigh Day said this was a particular difficulty with multiple elections or a large number of candidates.

Ms Andrews said the UK should adopt measures used in other countries such as audio voting booths and telephone voting.

A Cabinet Office consultation earlier this year admitted that the Royal National Institute for the Blind “viewed the TVD as not fit for purpose”, while half those surveyed by RNIB wanted an electronic alternative to enable them to be independent when voting.

The Government response said though: “There may be potential benefits for some groups in using e-voting but there are significant concerns about the security of online voting and increased risk of electoral fraud and providing unproven systems to people who are already vulnerable in terms of engagement and participation would not be helpful.”

Ms Andrews last year gained £2,000 in compensation from Broadland District Council, saying it had failed to make the necessary arrangements to allow her to vote independently and in secret in the 2015 general election.

Mark Smulian