With early voting now underway, Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn said voters who are blind or have low vision can now access a telephone voting service that enables them to cast a secret vote.
“This is a first for a federal election and means voters with low vision or who are blind can cast their vote by telephone from home, or from any location without the need to attend an AEC office,” Mr Killesteyn said.
“Blind or low vision voters can still vote with assistance at one of the several thousand polling stations that will operate throughout Australia on election day or at one of the many early voting centres, however the new telephone voting service offers a further convenient choice.”
Eligible voters who are blind or have low vision can register for the service by calling 1800 913 993. They will be asked to select a six-digit PIN and the AEC will confirm their registration and provide the voter with an eight-digit registration number, either via post, email, SMS or a phone call.
Over 700 have registered for the service already, and some votes have already been cast using the new service.
“To vote, registered voters call 1800 913 993 and use their registration number and their PIN to be marked off the electoral roll – they will not need to give their name,” Mr Killesteyn said.
“While AEC officers will record the voter’s preferences on the ballot papers, the PIN and registration number system ensures the voter’s identity remains secret.
“People can register to use the blind or low vision telephone voting service anytime between now and 12pm (AEST) on polling day, Saturday 7 September.
“Once registered, you can then vote any time between 8:30am and 5:30pm (AEST) from now through to Friday 6 September, and on polling day on 7 September from 8:00am to 6:00pm (AEST).”
Vision Australia has welcomed the AEC’s telephone voting initiative for people who are blind or have low vision.
“Australians who are blind or have low vision, like me, have been waiting a long time to realise their right to vote without needing to rely on family or friends to cast their ballot,” Vision Australia’s General Manager for Accessible Information Solutions, Mr Michael Simpson said.
“This telephone voting service is encouraging.”
AEC media release