25 July 2008

The NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC) will offer Braille ballot papers to vision impaired voters in the 2008 council elections, in what is believed to be a first for electors at any federal, state or local government poll.

“We have been working closely with Vision Australia over the past few months to arrange for the printing of ballot papers in Braille to ensure electors who read this format are catered for,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.

“However, we will have just four weeks to prepare the papers in this format before polling day so we have set a deadline of 5.00pm on 13 August for people to contact us with this request.”

To receive a Braille ballot paper, electors must provide their name, address and preferred method of voting to the NSWEC. The ballot papers would be delivered to a pre-poll centre, postal address or polling place nominated by the elector.

An information campaign advertising the availability of Braille ballot papers commenced on 21 July and the NSWEC website has information on how to apply for Braille ballot papers in HTML and MP3 audio format.

The Enfield Vision Australia Centre will again be used as a polling place for low vision electors as well as the general public. Experienced Vision Australia volunteers and election officials will be available to assist electors with a variety of tasks from reading information to marking ballot papers (in accordance with the elector’s instructions).

Specialised equipment such as closed circuit television for magnification and contrast, magnifying glasses and specialised lighting will also be available at the centre.

Under its access to democracy initiative, the NSWEC also provides hand-held magnifiers and user-friendly thick pencils at elections. Election information is available in alternative formats, including generic Braille and audio Elector Brochures, and Braille, audio and Easy English How-to-Vote Guides.

The NSWEC also provides a telephone typewriter service for the hearing and speech impaired through TTY 02 9247 3568. For enquiries in languages other than English call our interpreting service on 13 14 50.

Electors should direct their request for a Braille ballot paper to Project Manager Simon Waterhouse on (02) 9290 5999.

Media Contact:  Adrian Kerr, Corporate Communications
(02) 9290 5954   adrian.kerr@elections.nsw.gov.au