Visually impaired voters to trial ballot paper aid

A system to help blind and partially sighted people to vote is to be trialled in two Highland Council by-elections.

It involves cardboard templates with cut-out areas that match up with each voting box when placed on top of a ballot paper.

The templates have Braille and embossed areas next to each box.

Highland Council said it was trialling the system after a recent survey suggested people with visual impairments felt they could not vote in secret.

The ballot paper overlay is expected to be made available during the Scottish Parliament elections next year.