On Air Now

Wide Awake Club

1:00am - 5:00am

Now Playing

Everything But The Girl

I Don't Wanna Talk About It

Listen Live Watch

To the Editor: I'll be voting in the local elections but as someone with sight loss

Friday, 1 May 2026 22:41

By David Murphy

Anna Tylor

Polling stations under Oldham Council to have accessible McGonagle Reader for voters with sight loss

Dear Editor, 
  
Like many, I’ll be voting in the local elections on 7 May – but, as someone with sight loss, I know from experience that doing so independently and in secret is far from guaranteed.  
  
Voting is still an overwhelmingly visual process of reviewing a list and marking a cross in a box. Without the right equipment, many blind and partially sighted people are forced to rely on others to mark our ballot in the way we wish, compromising our privacy and dignity. That simply isn’t good enough in a modern democracy.  
  
At the 2024 UK General Election only a quarter of blind people said that the current system allowed them to vote independently and in secret.  
  
Thanks to the work of Oldham Council, polling stations in Oldham will have the McGonagle Reader available on 7 May. RNIB research shows that the combined audio-tactile device is the best accessible voting solution currently available. At a trial RNIB ran in collaboration with the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, this device ranked highest with a 93 per cent accuracy rate for casting intended votes.  
  
This will make a huge difference to voters with sight loss in Oldham and the efforts of Oldham Council will hopefully set an example to other local authorities to improve accessibility for their blind and partially sighted voters at future elections. 
  
A truly fair election is one where everyone can vote independently and with confidence. On 7 May, blind and partially sighted voters deserve nothing less. 
Sincerely, 
  
Anna Tylor 
Chair of Trustees at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) 

Share

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

 

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something happening in our Borough?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@rochvalleyradio.com

All contact will be treated in confidence.

More from Local News

Comments

Add a comment

Log in to the club or enter your details below.

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

 

Recently Played

Newsletter

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

   

Coming up next On Air

  • Wide Awake Club

    1:00am - 5:00am

    For those who find themselves awake at 3am more often than they’d like. Calm music, understanding voices and quiet company.

  • Up Before the Alarm

    5:00am - 7:00am

    for early starters, commuters and anyone already on their second brew. Livelier music and new voices warming things up before breakfast.

  • Monday Breakfast

    7:00am - 10:00am

    getting you out of bed and to work and school with great music and headlines.

  • Monday Morning Mix

    10:00am - Noon

    Join Alan Duckworth with a mix of all genres of music and general chat around book music, scooters and other social interests with a relaxing Smooth 15 minutes after the 11 o’clock news.

  • Lunchtime with Joe

    Noon - 2:00pm

    bringing you a wide mix of music and chat during your lunch break.

  • Monday Gospel

    2:00pm - 3:00pm

    with Mary Walsh bring you a wide-ranging gospel music from all over the world.

Roch Valley Radio is a not-for-profit radio station serving Bury and Rochdale including the surrounding areas on DAB, your Smart Speakers and Online.

© Copyright 2026 Roch Valley Radio CIC. Powered by Aiir.