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Inclusive-Voting-Second-Edition-Merged.Pdf 1 forewords 3 - 6 executive summary 7 - 9 voter registration 10 - 12 barriers in elections 13 - 15 barriers in voting 16 - 18 the existing system 19 - 20 online voting 21 - 23 international and eu law on voter accessibility 24 - 25 references 26 - 28 2 3 Areeq Chowdhury In undertaking this research, it has become clear with vision impairments and other disabilities to me that the problems facing disabled and have access to that right. vision impaired voters when accessing elections is Online voting has a crucial role to play in ensuring far greater than I imagined. It should be a source that everyone can play a full role in democratic of embarrassment for successive Governments participation. We should look towards the that such basic problems persist in 2017. progress that has been made in countries such as This report looks specifically at how the use of Australia and Estonia, where voters with digital technology can enhance accessibility, disabilities are able to vote independently in the however, there are some very simple short-term comfort of their homes. There can be no excuse fixes which should be implemented, too. Some of for delay, and I would strongly urge all parties these are outlined in this report, such as looking to govern the UK to adopt the highlighting accessibility helplines at the recommendations set out in this report. beginning of a document or webpage, rather than A democracy that works for everyone is one at the end. where no voter is left off the electoral register, For the UK to be a truly inclusive democracy, the where all voters are sufficiently informed about next Government must address the problems the election, and where all voters have the ability outlined in this report and recognise that digital to vote independently. democracy has a critical role to play in enabling accessible elections. It is a human right for citizens to be able to cast a secret and independent vote, Chief Executive, WebRoots Democracy however it is highly questionable whether voters 4 Baroness Sal Brinton Democracy must be accessible to all voters. demonstrate how our political process isn’t Technology has played a crucial role in reducing either. barriers which hinder the lives of those with vision A cornerstone of our electoral system is that impairments and other disabilities. I am therefore voters should be able to vote independently and pleased to welcome this report by WebRoots in secret. This simply is not the case for many Democracy assessing how the internet can help voters with vision impairments and other include voters of all abilities into our electoral disabilities. It is not right that hundreds of process. thousands of voters are being made to depend on It is vital that we approach our democracy as we others to cast their ballot on their behalf, or risk approach our devices. They should both be accidentally spoiling their vote. It is clear that the accessible, user-friendly, and kept up-to-date technology exists to enable independent and with the times in which we live. Solutions of the secret votes for all. past aren’t always suitable for the present, so it is As set out in this report, countries such as right that we constantly look at how technology Australia have successfully implemented online can improve the system and this report does just voting for vision impaired and disabled voters. It that. is time for us to look at here in Britain, too. As a full-time wheelchair user myself, I know first- hand how our democratic infrastructure is unfit for those of us with disabilities. Our Parliament in President of the Liberal Democrats Westminster is not nearly accessible enough and the experiences outlined in this report 5 Nicky Gavron AM As a politician who recently has become visually It is only right that we now look at how best we impaired, I know all too well how inaccessible our can harness digital technology to break down society is for those of us with a disability. It is an barriers in our democracy. It is frankly aspiration that institutions in the private sector unacceptable that we have a situation in which enable accessibility for all, but it is an expectation hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of vision that institutions in our public sector are impaired and disabled voters in the UK are unable accessible, and this includes the administration of to vote independently and in secret, when in elections. other countries they are able to do so. We should look towards advancements made by our friends Therefore, I wholeheartedly welcome this in Australia and Estonia in which they have important report by WebRoots Democracy adopted online voting to enable democratic exploring how we can enable full inclusion into accessibility for all. our democratic process for voters with vision impairments and disabilities. The expectation for our elections to be accessible is not currently being met, however if we Any one of us can obtain a disability at any point implement the recommendations set out in this in our lives, so it is critical that we speak up and report, they can help set us on our way. speak out about deficiencies in our democracy that make it difficult for us to participate. The rise in digital technology has brought wonders for Labour London Assembly Member people with vision impairments and disabilities. It Deputy Mayor of London 2004 - 2008 has broken down barriers to everyday tasks and enabled greater independence. For me personally, voice recognition technology has been an incredible help following the rapid decline in my eyesight. 6 7 Purpose and background the electoral register and passing this information on to party campaigners. A functioning democracy is one that is accessible to all. Voting in elections, the action we are all 5. The Electoral Commission should asked to undertake, is the foundation of our develop an official, independent, and democratic society. In an age where technology accessible voter advice application has enabled many people to continue playing a ahead of the next UK General Election. full role in society despite disabilities, it is 6. Key election information shared on questionable that we should continue indefinitely social media by public bodies should not with an analogue process of democratic solely contain the information in an participation. image format. In producing this report, we have worked with disability charities and campaigners from across 7. The Equality and Human Rights Commission should explore whether or the board, as well as election providers, and the not the existing voting system is in Electoral Commission, exploring how technology breach of the Human Rights Act 1998 can ensure more inclusive elections. Throughout and the UN Convention on the Rights of this report, we build upon the discussions held Persons with Disabilities. during a policy roundtable we hosted at City Hall, London, as well as existing research, new data, and information kindly provided to us by disability Key findings charities.1 It is clear that accessibility for vision impaired and This report explores barriers not just in the disabled people, whether it be in the physical act of voting, but in joining the electoral administration of elections, or elsewhere, is seen register and accessing information about only as an ‘after-thought’ by decision-makers and elections, candidates, and party policies. It also is seen through the prism of compliance rather sets out a number of recommendations that we than inclusion. Many of the required changes to will be calling on decision-makers to adopt in the the system should have been implemented long run up to this snap General Election, and beyond. ago. For example, frustration was reported to us regarding the fact that information about Recommendations assistance is often placed at the end instead of 1. The Government should initiate pilots of the beginning of important documents. online voting as a matter of priority in Simple changes can make a huge difference to the new Parliament, with a view to an people’s experience with elections, and should be online voting option being in place for implemented immediately. It is the case that the next UK General Election. there are polling cards produced which ask the 2. Consideration should be given towards voter to call a helpline if they require assistance, joining up existing disability registers, with the helpline number printed only on the such as CVIs, with the electoral register. opposite side. The move towards online and individual electoral 3. It should be made law for all major registration seems to have improved accessibility political parties to produce manifestos in alternate, accessible, formats prior to to registration for disabled and vision impaired the opening of the postal vote window. voters. In particular, it has reduced the risk of deliberate non-registration by carers or other 4. Consideration should be given towards individuals. However, there is clear room for recording information preferences on improvement and consideration should be given 8 towards ensuring disabled students in particular About this version have not been left off the register as a result of the changes. This is an archived, second edition version of the Inclusive Voting report. The formatting of this Access to information in elections also appears to version differs to the previous edition published be problematic. The publication of manifestos in in 2017, however the content remains the same. accessible formats is slow and in the cases of the Conservative Party and the Scottish National For any queries please contact Party, has taken place days after the postal vote [email protected]. window has opened for the 2017 UK General Election. With regards to the physical act of voting, there is a clear feeling that voters with disabilities and vision impairments are being prevented from their right to vote secretly and independently in the existing system.
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