Way back in September 2021 Southampton Sight members and Kate gave some feedback on the McGonagle reader, so how fabulous is this that she was able to use the device on election day and give some first hand feedback.
When using the McGonagle reader for the first time, I had mixed feelings. Some anxiety around whether I would be able to fill out my ballot paper 100% on my own and nervousness, as to me I really felt this vote mattered and I did not want to spoil my ballot paper and I really felt it was important to make my vote count.
The device is reasonably easy to use for the first time. Fortunately for me, I had step-by-step instructions from the polling clerk and there is an accompanying USB memory stick detailing the process from start to finish. To begin with you must get someone sighted to stick the ballot paper to the back of the device. I discussed this with the polling clerk and she said that she believed somebody with no sight would never be able to do this part of the process themselves as ballot papers can be different sizes. For example, on Thursday I had two ballot papers to complete one for a local election and the other for the general election.
Once the ballot paper was stuck to the device and the relevant USB stick was inserted into the machine, I then switched the machine on and pressed the triangular button right at the top which tells you the title of the ballot paper. You can use either the speaker or headphones.
Beneath this, there are up to 12 round buttons, otherwise known as doorbells, which when pressed will read out exact information from the ballot paper. I discovered that I had to press slightly longer than I expected to. Me being me, (miss impatient!) pressed quickly and some of the information wasn’t read out but when I then went back and tried again pressing slightly longer, it worked. Once you’ve chosen your candidate by pressing each of the doorbells, to the right of them is a tactile arrow. Lift this up and fold it back and press on the underside of the arrow and it will confirm the candidate. Underneath where the arrow was in its original position, there is a square box, this is a guide to show you where you must mark your ballot paper using either the provided pencil or your own that you bought along with you.
As far as I’m aware, I marked both the papers successfully. I confess though I did still get my partner to check if I had done it correctly. I know I didn’t complete the process 100% on my own but I just wanted the reassurance as it was my first time using the device and the first time I could mark the ballot paper and keep my vote private. It was a painless experience although I took a very long time to go through all the information and cast my vote because I wanted to know that I’d done it correctly.
I was told that I was the only person in the WINCHESTER district who had asked to use the McGonagle reader. This surprised me as I knew that there are quite a few visually impaired people in and around WINCHESTER itself. I had spoken to my local electoral services soon after the date for the general election was announced and this is what I would recommend doing if you want to try using the device for yourself at any election as voting in secret is our democratic right.
