Australian Employers Network on Disability

In the recent federal election, Sam French, who has a vision impairment, voted using the newly developed electronically assisted voting system. In 2007, for the first time, people who are blind or have low vision were able to lodge an independent and secret vote. Many voters who are blind or have low vision cannot complete a ballot paper in secret because they need assistance from others to complete the appropriate paper-based ballot paper.

The electronic voting machines were available at 29 pre-poll voting centres around Australia for two weeks before the election, as well as on polling day.  The electronically assisted method that Sam used to vote consisted of a 21 inch flat screen monitor, which had a choice of colour display and an option for larger font.  The machines also had voice instructions using headphones. The voter navigates the system using a telephone-style keypad, which has large black numbers on a white background. The operation of each key is explained by the voice, but was also available in the voting centre in large print and in Braille.  Voters had an opportunity to become familiar with the machine by using a practice voting session, and a polling official was available to assist in this practice. When the voter is ready to vote, the polling official activated the machine to present the correct ballots to the voter, and then leaves the person to vote in private.

Once the voter has made their selections, their preferences were printed on a small laser printer next to the electronic voting machine.  The preferences are contained within a two-dimensional barcode to preserve the secrecy of the vote in the polling place.  These barcodes are later decoded so the votes can be counted along with all other votes.  When the person is finished voting, a polling official assists them to place the votes in the declaration vote envelope, and the declaration vote envelope in the ballot box.

Overall, Sam found the electronically assisted voting system to be a positive experience.  The system had greatly improved accessibility, was easy to use and the staff at the polling booth provided clear instructions.

However, there are some areas for improvement in ensuring accessible voting for people with disability, including:

• Improving the information on accessible voting through the AEC information lines prior to polling day –it was difficult to obtain clear information through the information line about participating in the trial, and information relevant to interstate absentee voting. 
• Electronically assisted voting was only available in 29 locations, which meant it wouldn’t have been possible for all voters who are blind or have low vision to access a designated pre-poll centre which has electronically assisted voting machines.
• Voting using the electronically assisted system was only available to people who are blind or have low vision. There are people with other types of impairment that make it difficult or impossible to lodge an independent and secret vote, and as such, increasing access to this method of voting for people with different types of disability would be a positive step in future elections. We would, therefore, encourage the AEC and the Commonwealth Government to broaden access to electronically assisted voting for people with other types of disability,

More information about Accessible Electronic Voting can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission's website at http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2007/special_needs.htm.