The Welsh Government, in collaboration with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Cymru, is launching accessible voting trials in Cardiff and Wrexham to improve the voting experience for disabled individuals. This initiative is supported by £25,000 in funding and aims to address the challenges faced by disabled voters, particularly those with visual impairments, ensuring they can vote independently and in secret. The trials began in Cardiff and will extend to Wrexham, where various solutions are being evaluated, including tactile voting devices, audio assistance, and a mock telephone ballot information line. These efforts are a response to an RNIB report indicating that only 25% of blind people felt the current system allowed for independent and secret voting. The Welsh Government plans to expand these trials over the next year to explore solutions for voters with other accessibility needs, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive electoral practices before the 2026 Senedd Election.
Available measures at all Wrexham Council polling stations:
- Low-level disabled polling booths suitable for wheelchair user
- Large print notices of ballot papers
- Tactile devices to enable blind or visually impaired voters to vote without assistance
- Pencil grips for voters with dexterity impairments
The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, stated that these trials demonstrate a commitment to making elections in Wales more accessible and inclusive for all voters, emphasizing that every voter should have the right to cast their ballot independently and in secret1. RNIB Cymru’s Director, Ansley Workman, expressed confidence that by working together, the upcoming elections in Wales can be the most accessible yet for blind and partially sighted people.
