New accessibility feature introduced for 1 May elections
Voters with a visual impairment will be able to cast their vote more independently in this week's elections, thanks to the introduction of a new accessibility feature.
Fenland District Council is rolling out new audio recordings of ballot papers for the Cambridgeshire County Council elections and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayoral election taking place this Thursday, 1 May 2025.
Each polling station in Fenland will have two printed QR codes (one for each election being held). When scanned using a mobile phone or device, the QR code links to an audio version of the ballot paper - providing spoken instructions and details of all the candidates and their political parties. This allows voters to familiarise themselves with the ballot before casting their vote.
The recordings will work alongside other provisions at polling stations such as tactile voting devices, helping people who are blind and partially sighted to mark their ballot papers independently and with confidence.
Polling station staff are also on hand to offer support whenever needed.
A Fenland District Council spokesperson said: "Everyone should be able to take part in the democratic process without facing barriers and be able to vote on their own and in secret. We have lots of support available for people with disabilities and these new audio recordings of ballot papers will improve that further, helping ensure polling stations and the voting system are accessible as they can be."
As well as being available at polling stations on polling day, the audio recordings can be accessed in advance below:
Cambridgeshire County Council elections:
- Chatteris Division
- March North and Waldersey Division
- March South and Rural Division
- Roman Bank and Peckover Division
- Whittlesey North Division
- Whittlesey South Division
- Wisbech East Division
- Wisbech West Division
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayoral election:
More information:
For more information about accessibility at polling stations in Fenland, visit: Accessibility at polling stations.
Alternatively, contact the elections team at elections@fenland.gov.uk or call 01354 654321.
For more information on the elections taking place on Thursday, 1 May 2025, visit: Elections 2025
Keep up-to-date with Fenland District Council via Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and our newsletter The Fenlander Newsletter.
April 2025
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