a number of raised hands

Elections Bill could weaken protections for blind and partially sighted voters

Urgent update from RNIB:  
The Government has put forward a draft law – the Elections Bill – which weakens protection for an independent vote for blind and partially sighted people. But there is still time to stop this from happening. 

RNIB need to persuade the Government to maintain the existing law, and need your help to do it.  Will you meet your MP to help maintain an independent vote for blind and partially sighted people? You can use RNIB’s simple online form to email your MP to request a meeting. Get in touch and RNIB will send you all the information you need to make your meeting a success! You can also join virtual chats with them to get tips on how to prepare. Or you can find everything you need to know on the Elections Bill on the RNIB website. You could also email your MP today using the pre-written email to MP which is available on the RNIB website

RNIB’s latest research showed that only 1 in 5 blind voters and less than half of partially sighted voters were able to vote independently and in secret in the 2021 elections – this could get worse if the current wording is not maintained in the new Bill.

People queue with trolleys in a supermarket car park

Your food shopping experience

How are you getting on with shopping for food?

What are your experiences of queues, social distancing, assistance available in store?

Have you managed to secure online delivery slots?

The Nystagmus Network continues to lobby alongside other bigger VI charities (please see this recent Daily Telegraph article) for the rights of people with nystagmus and other sight conditions to have priority treatment for both online and in store shopping, alongside other disabled people, and for there to be more understanding about the need to pick up packets and tins to read the labels if a fully sighted friend, family member or member of store staff is not available/allowed to assist.

We will also raise a question with Sight and Sound at our forthcoming webinars about the best aid to reading labels.

Please contact us with your thoughts and comments.

Thank you