Now that early voting for the 2013 federal election, the Electoral commission has announced that voters who are blind or have low vision can now access a telephone voting service that enables them to cast a secret vote.
“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.” Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn commented.
Mr. Killesteyn explained that 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, and that over 700 people have registered for the service already.
“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).” Mr. Killesteyn.
“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 an encouraging step forward.”