To: UK Goverment

Blindspot. Denied the right to vote

In less than 12 months the General Election will take place. However many blind and partially sighted people will be prevented from exercising their right to vote.

Please ensure that all polling stations are accessible to all disabilities including sight impaired and allow technology, normally used in everyday life to access independence, to be used in order to vote.

Why is this important?

UK legislation does not allow people with a sight impairment to use technology, which we use in our normal daily lives to maintain independence, to vote

It is not always possible for someone with sight loss to get to a polling station and if they do, only 25% are accessible.

We want to be able to use our technology, for example, to allow ballot papers to be sent to us via email attachment or CD, complete those using electronic devices (with the aid of assistive software) such as Smartphone, Tablets or a PC and return them for printing and entered into the ballot box. Security measures can easily be set up to avoid fraud as with normal postal voting. We do not believe this constitutes 'electronic voting' but simply a reasonable adjustment (auxiliary aid) under the Equality Act 20
Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability article 29 we have the right to a political and public life. We believe the UK Politicians are breaching the convention.

People with sight impairment have the right to dignity and choice and control over their own
Imagine for one moment you were told you were losing your sight or that you were going blind, "pretty emotional I expect". Putting those emotions to one side for a moment, how would you cope for instance with getting a hospital or mental health (emotional support) appointment, accessing your own NI number in order to get employment or benefits, bank or insurance information as well as many other services you would need to access in order to retain as much independence as possible. Even if you were to go totally blind, independence is achievable with the aid of assistive technology such as text-to speech and touch type
You have coped with the emotional impact of sight loss and are now ready to move on. Sorry but worse is yet to come because you are discriminated by mainly public bodies and also the private sector who place barriers in your way such as reasons of security or integrity of documents to demy you the right to participate in society or allow you your rightful independence

It has been made virtually impossible to get legal aid anymore in order to fight discrimination and injustice.

UK politicians seem to have a 'Blindspot ' when it comes to accessible voting

I therefore need this matter debated in the House of Commons. For this to happen I would need to raise 100,000 signatures. Please show your support and sign the petition. We all have the human and democratic right to vote

Worse than being told you are losing your sight, for many, is being told you cannot use what ability is left to you. Therefore the answer too "how do you cope with sight loss" is you don't if you are not allowed too.

We have sexism and racism but it appears we do not have 'disablism' in the UK.

RNIB Policy Position Statement
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9vheEyP62zlbGZxaWFxOXBxbDg/edit?usp=sharing

Article 29
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=289

Electoral Commissioners comments
http://disabilitynewsservice.com/2014/05/legal-action-threat-over-postal-voting-discrimination