A new computer system, that allows voters who are blind or have low vision to vote independently and in secret, is being used as part of an accessible voting trial by the Electoral Commission Queensland for the first time at the 2015 Queensland state election.
e-Assist – available from today at nine polling stations throughout the state including at Vision Australia’s Coorparoo head office – allows a voter to place their vote by following voice prompts on an audio-enabled computer.
Vision Australia’s Liz Jeffrey, Advocacy Advisor said that the trial of e-Assist, and the introduction of telephone voting at this year’s state election, was a move in the right direction for providing the blind and low vision community with the same voting experience as sighted voters.
“Vision Australia is extremely pleased that there are two convenient and user friendly voting options available to the blind and low vision community,” said Liz.
“In previous elections, members of this community cast their vote using a braille ballot paper. However only a small percentage of people who are blind or have low vision can read braille.
“Alternatively they needed a polling official to talk them through the voting options. The official would then place their vote on their behalf.”
Vision Australia has campaigned extensively for accessible, independent and secret voting to be introduced in Queensland. The introduction of telephone voting and
e-Assist were made possible with the passing of the Electoral Reform Amendment Act 2014 which was introduced to ensure the Queensland electoral system has high standards of integrity and accountability, and encourages participation.
“We congratulate the Commission on advancing accessible voting. We encourage the blind and low vision community to use telephone voting or e-Assist at this election to make their vote count,” concluded Liz.
Media contact
Vanessa Sandhu, Communications Advisor, Vision Australia, 3727 2319,
0422 302 790, [email protected]
e-Assist locations
Pre-poll booths offering e-Assist are open from Monday 19 to Thursday 29 January between 9.00am and 5.00pm and on Friday 30 January between 9.00am and 6.00pm. All pre-poll booths are closed on Sunday 25 January.
Brisbane
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, 4000
Coorparoo: Vision Australia, 373 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo, 4151
Bundaberg
50 Woondooma Street, Bundaberg, 4670
Cairns
Cairns Showgrounds, Corner of Severin Street and Mulgrave Road, Cairns, 4870
Gold Coast
Burleigh: Fradgley Hall (above library building), Park Avenue (cnr Ocean Street), Burleigh Heads, 4220
Southport: Southport Community Centre, 6 Lawson Street, Southport, 4215
Mackay
Mackay Showgrounds, 24 Milton Street, Mackay, 4740
Sunshine Coast
Maroochydore: Millwell Road Community Centre, 11 Millwell Road East, Maroochydore, 4558
Noosa: Noosa Christian Outreach Centre Hall, 202 Eumundi Noosa Road, Noosaville, 4566