Blind people continue to be marginalised in local authority elections, and still cannot cast their vote independently with confidence and dignity. They are required to place their trust in family or friends, and for many, often in someone they do not know, to cast their vote for them. So when they do vote, they can only hope that their trust is not misguided, and that their directions are carried out.

Blind people continue to be marginalised in local authority elections, and still cannot cast their vote independently with confidence and dignity. They are required to place their trust in family or friends, and for many, often in someone they do not know, to cast their vote for them. So when they do vote, they can only hope that their trust is not misguided, and that their directions are carried out. Blind Citizens NZ acknowledges there are steps afoot to introduce one mechanism that may address this deficit, but that one option will benefit only a small percentage of New Zealand’s blind population, therefore more are needed. Read on…