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Voting campaigns - Young Author and Speaker Molly Watt

An examination of the problems faced by visually impaired voters when casting their ballot. And young author and speaker Molly Watt on dealing with both hearing and vision loss.

Coming up to the 2015 general election, a number of organisations and charities are launching campaigns and lobbying government to increase voter participation by visually impaired people. The Political and Constitutional Reform Parliamentary subcommittee have heard evidence from the Royal National Institute of Blind People and other organisations, about the experience of visually impaired people when voting. We hear some listeners' experiences, as well as find out what reforms might be possible.

Molly Watt is twenty years old, has written a children's book and has Usher Syndrome. Molly talks frankly about her experience of having two sensory impairments and describes how she deals with both hearing and vision loss.

Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Lee Kumutat.

(Photgraph: Molly Watt and Peter White)

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20 minutes

Last on

Tue 20 Jan 2015 20:40
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Voting campaigns for visually impaired people

• has published a paper containing some proposals for changes to the existing electoral law, and is calling for responses to a consultation which is open currently.

Β Both the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the Royal London Society for Blind People, have launched campaigns for more inclusive voting provisions to be made for visually impaired people.

• Royal London Society for Blind People: Vote Without Limits

• RNIB:


• A has also been set up to investigate the opportunities digital technology can bring for parliamentary democracy in the UK. It will make recommendations in January 2015 and welcomes views from everyone.

Have your say on electronic voting until 10 October:Μύ

Wednesday 3 September: Commissioners' meeting on electronic voting.
You can also email or post on any of our social media channels. If you prefer to send your thoughts to us not in writting (such as video or sound cloud), please attach or send a link. Β witter, facebook or LinkedIn.

Usher Syndrome

:Μύ"National charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind or have sensory impairments. We have been supporting people who have sensory impairments to enjoy more independent lives for the last 60 years."

Broadcast

  • Tue 20 Jan 2015 20:40
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Related Links

  • (www.molly-watt-trust.org)