Vision Australia’s Karen Knight and Liz Jeffrey have told Queensland MPs at a parliamentary committee hearing how the introduction of electronic assisted voting will benefit the entire community.
The Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie has introduced legislation to allow electronic voting to be made available at the next state election.
Voting has been compulsory in Queensland since 1915, and the next election in Queensland is due no later than 20 June 2015. After 100 years of state elections, Vision Australia is heartened the voting system may now provide adequate access to information for people who are blind or have low vision.
Electronic assisted voting by telephone and internet is already available in several States and Territories across Australia – and the move by Queensland is an important step forward to eliminate the need for assistance when filling in a ballot paper.
Vision Australia has campaigned strongly for the introduction of a system which allows people who are blind or have low vision to cast a secret ballot independently.
There are different methods in use across Australia, some States using just a telephone, and others allowing internet voting as well. The category of eligible voters is also important, as the more people allowed to vote electronically will help ensure the success of any system.
Karen Knight, General Manager for Queensland in Vision Australia told the Committee that the system currently used in New South Wales known as iVote represents the most advanced system in use in Australia today. The iVote system is similar to how telephone and internet banking works.
It is hoped the Queensland government will follow the model of electronic voting used in the 2011 NSW election, which was accessed by more than 46,000 voters. Importantly the technology was able to be used by a wide cross section of the community, which meant more people used it.
The Committee is due to report to the Queensland Parliament by 24 February 2014. Following that the legislation will be further debated before passing into law later this year. Following that, the Electoral Commission of Queensland will move to develop and implement the system.
Download Vision Australia’s written submission to the inquiry (Word, 72KB).
Download the transcript of evidence given by Karen and Liz to the committee on 6 February is available.
The Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie has introduced legislation to allow electronic voting to be made available at the next state election.
Voting has been compulsory in Queensland since 1915, and the next election in Queensland is due no later than 20 June 2015. After 100 years of state elections, Vision Australia is heartened the voting system may now provide adequate access to information for people who are blind or have low vision.
Electronic assisted voting by telephone and internet is already available in several States and Territories across Australia – and the move by Queensland is an important step forward to eliminate the need for assistance when filling in a ballot paper.
Vision Australia has campaigned strongly for the introduction of a system which allows people who are blind or have low vision to cast a secret ballot independently.
There are different methods in use across Australia, some States using just a telephone, and others allowing internet voting as well. The category of eligible voters is also important, as the more people allowed to vote electronically will help ensure the success of any system.
Karen Knight, General Manager for Queensland in Vision Australia told the Committee that the system currently used in New South Wales known as iVote represents the most advanced system in use in Australia today. The iVote system is similar to how telephone and internet banking works.
The technology is available and we use it now. Really it is the same technology that you would use for something like an iVote system,” Ms Knight said.
I think the power that it gives you as an individual and the confidence that you are actually making your own choices is so valuable,” Ms Knight told the committee.Responding to Vision Australia’s evidence, Committee Member Mr Aaron Dillaway MP said, “I just want to congratulate Vision Australia, because I know that you guys have been big advocates of this, and you certainly wrote to us on many occasions prior to the 2012 election. I guess from my perspective you are the guinea pigs, so congratulations. I look forward to this spanning out and hopefully encapsulating more of the electorate, so well done.”
It is hoped the Queensland government will follow the model of electronic voting used in the 2011 NSW election, which was accessed by more than 46,000 voters. Importantly the technology was able to be used by a wide cross section of the community, which meant more people used it.
The Committee is due to report to the Queensland Parliament by 24 February 2014. Following that the legislation will be further debated before passing into law later this year. Following that, the Electoral Commission of Queensland will move to develop and implement the system.
Download Vision Australia’s written submission to the inquiry (Word, 72KB).
Download the transcript of evidence given by Karen and Liz to the committee on 6 February is available.