The State has been ordered to pay the legal costs of a severely visually impaired man after he won a High Court declaration concerning the State's duty to vindicate his right to vote privately and without assistance in referendums and elections.

A severely visually impaired man has claimed his right to vote in secret has been breached by the State’s alleged failure to provide an appropriate mechanism allowing him do so.

The Government has been asked to “rectify its failure” to provide blind and vision impaired voters with their constitutional right to a secret ballot.