CAMPAIGNERS for blind people in Wales today welcomed an initiative to make polling stations more accessible.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People Cymru (RNIB Cymru) found that only a quarter of blind people felt the current system allows them to vote independently and in secret.

Welsh government minister Jayne Bryant has announced £25,000 for trials of ways to make polling stations more accessible ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.

The Welsh government, RNIB Cymru and electoral administrators are testing a variety of solutions with blind and partially sighted people in Cardiff and Wrexham to identify workable, cost-effective and bilingual solutions.

RNIB Cymru’s Ansley Workman said: “Nobody should feel nervous or embarrassed walking into a polling station, unsure whether they will be able to vote.”

Ms Bryant said: “The RNIB’s findings that only half of blind and partially sighted voters said they were satisfied with their voting experience at the 2024 general election shows this is a matter that needs to be taken very seriously.”