For the first time, Newham Council is introducing the McGonagle Reader at several polling stations.
Newham is rolling out a new tool across the borough for the first time, to help support blind and partially sighted residents. The tool will be useful to help them vote for the upcoming May 7 local elections for councillors on Newham Council and a new Mayor of Newham.
Blind and partially sighted residents have long-faced difficulties when it comes to the crucial task of voting in an election. From not being able to see or read a ballot paper and then marking the paper there are challenges that arise from it.
Often, they require assistance from a person to help mark their answer. However, the privacy aspect of voting has been lost due to needing another person to assist when casting a vote.
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For the first time, Newham Council is introducing the McGonagle Reader at several polling stations. The reader will give the voter an audio prompt and physical aid to choose and mark their own ballot paper, and not need assistance throughout the process.
Research from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) found that at the 2024 General Election, two-thirds (66 per cent) of blind people who voted at a polling station needed assistance from a companion or member of polling station staff.
The RNIB supports this initiative to provide voters a certainty that their vote has been cast correctly, and that their choice remains private and respected.
Newham’s Interim Chief Executive, Paul Martin, who is the returning officer for the local upcoming May elections said: “It is over 150 years since the notion of a secret ballot was enshrined in British democracy, but for many people with a visual impairment the need to require assistance to make their choice, and mark their ballot paper, has denied them this right to vote in secret. We hope by introducing the McGonagle Reader system at our polling stations, we can restore that right and dignity to voters.”
In order to test out the efficiency of the reader, the Council invited three visually impaired or blind Newham residents to try it out and give their thoughts. Tahira told the Council: “I think it’s a brilliant thing, now I know I can go and vote on my own.”
Sam said: “It’s fantastic because it now means that I can vote confidently, independently and discreetly as a registered blind person”
Finally, Christine added: “Initially I was hesitant, thinking gosh it’s going to be so complicated…(but) it’s easy-peasy. Fantastic. It gave me so much confidence and I’m so grateful for it.”
For residents who are intending to vote on May 7, and are blind or partially sighted, and would like to try to use the McGonagle Reader; Newham Council have said to register on their website.
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