Providing Equitable Service
It may seem that providing assistance to physically or visually handicapped voters falls into the category of a luxury service, an add-on that could be considered in highly developed countries if there is excess administrative time and additional finances available. However, to deny voting access to a significant proportion of the population through reason of disability could be considered the same, in terms of equity, as refusing access to voting facilities to persons in a particular geographic area.
Providing assistance to such voters need not be costly. In general it requires only some careful thought about the methods and locations for imparting voter information and for the act of voting, and in some cases the relaxation of strict ballot secrecy provisions. With regard to allowable assistance in actually marking or enveloping a ballot, this will need to be set in legislation or regulations, as it may violate normal ballot secrecy provisions.
Other standards of service to these voters would also be better codified (though not necessarily minutely detailed as to methods) rather than totally left to administrative discretion. In drafting such legislation, rules or procedures, community groups catering to physically and visually impaired persons should be consulted to determine equitable and cost-effective ways of meeting their voting facilities needs.
Methods of Voting
Special voting arrangements can assist visually and physically impaired voters in voting. These may be through special services at the voting station, or by providing facilities such as mobile voting stations (see Other Special Voting Arrangements) or voting by mail.
Whatever method is used, it is important that providing services to voters with physical disabilities is undertaken in a sensitive manner that does not further distinguish them from other members of the population. While use of special materials and perhaps even special areas of voting stations may allow them more comfort in voting, the assignment of special voting days or special voting stations for persons with disabilities is not generally to be encouraged, unless specifically requested by the communities themselves.
Services at Normal Voting Stations
At normal voting stations, physically impaired voters can be assisted by:
- allowing another person to mark their ballot according to their instructions (see discussion below);
- providing kerb-side voting facilities, whereby voters who cannot access the voting station (for example wheelchair-bound voters at voting stations with no wheelchair access) vote outside the voting station, having been brought ballot papers and control forms to complete by a polling official, who then returns these to the voting station;
- allowing disabled voters to apply to vote at a voting station other than the one to which they have been assigned on the voters list, if their assigned voting station is not suitable for disabled access.
(For further information on voting station facilities for physically impaired voters, see Accessibility Issues.)
Voting by Mail
Provision for voting by mail (see Early Voting) may also assist participation by physically impaired voters. In addition to normal voting by mail facilities, administration of mail voting can be made simpler by maintaining a register of disabled voters who wish to have permanent facilities for voting by mail. Where such registers are kept, they should be reviewed before each election (and may be more difficult to provide where there is a new voter registration process for each election).
Provision could also be made for mail voting by persons who, due to disability, cannot mark the ballot or sign their name and thus attest to the validity of their mail vote. This is a facility that could be open to abuse, and should be provided only on receipt of verified medical evidence. If used, registers of such persons must be kept and careful checking and control of votes cast by these persons is required. Where such persons are domiciled in institutions, integrity (but not necessarily costs) can better be served by a mobile voting station visit.
Assistance in Voting
Allowing certain categories of voters to be assisted in voting is always a contentious issue, as it raises questions both about voting secrecy and the possibility of influence being exerted on the voter to vote in a particular way. However, for some visually impaired and disabled voters, as for some non-literate voters (see Language and Literacy Assistance), allowing them to be assisted in marking the ballot paper is the only way they will be able to vote. Rules for such assistance need to be very carefully considered, to minimise the possibilities of manipulation.
Different solutions, very much influenced by the level of trust in societal institutions, are used in determining who may be allowed to assist a physically disabled or visually impaired voter to vote. The appropriate method will be environment specific. However, there are some general guidelines that should be considered:
A person known to and accompanying the voter or designated by the voter would be the first preference for assisting the voter to vote. Such persons would generally be required to be of voting age themselves.
Where such a person votes according to the voter's instructions, there should generally be no need for other persons to monitor the vote. However, there may need to be certain exclusions from those who can accompany voters to mark their ballots. These would involve categories of persons on whom the voter may be dependent; for example, in lesser developed societies, it may be prudent to exclude traditional leaders from those who may provide assistance. In relation to members of the military or other disciplined forces, the exclusion of superior officers would be justified.
If no such person is available, an independently appointed polling official should complete the voter's ballot according to the voter's instructions. In such cases party and candidate representatives present would normally witness the vote, to ensure that the voter's instructions are followed. They should not be allowed to attempt to influence the voter in the vote. Preferably more than one party representative will be present as a witness.
Where polling officials are political nominees, not independent appointments, a minimum of two officials from different political parties should be present if a voter requires their assistance in voting.
When ballots are marked or chosen for voters requiring assistance, it should be done within a voting compartment or booth.
There is the additional question of whether such voters should specifically register as 'assisted voters' prior to voting day. This would seem generally to be a bureaucratic imposition that, given implementation of policies in line with the guidelines above, does not enhance the integrity of assisted votes.
Voting Sites
As part of the assessment of the suitability of locations of premises for voting, ease of access for the physically disabled needs to be considered. It is useful for voting location standards in relation to the disabled to be defined in election rules, with alternative voting facilities to be provided where no location with disabled access suitable for voting is available in a given area. Standards should relate to the following considerations:
Entrance and exit access. Buildings used as voting stations should be fully accessible to disabled voters. Ground floor locations with an unobstructed access route are preferable. Slip-resistant access ramps of acceptable gradient (either a permanent building fixture or temporary provided by the electoral management body as part of voting station equipment) are necessary where primary access to the voting station area is by steps.
The voting area surface should be level, stable and non-slip, with sufficient space around voting equipment to allow disabled voters free movement. Split-level voting areas should be avoided.
Lighting should be sufficient for the visually impaired.
Additional seating should be provided for physically impaired voters while they wait to vote.
Reserved disabled parking areas should be available close to the voting station entrance in localities where private vehicular transport is heavily used.
Voting Station Equipment
Normal full-height voting compartments will not be suitable for those physically impaired and unable to stand while voting. Table top voting compartments for completing ballots by hand, or positioning of at least one voting machine at a lower level are necessary for the handicapped to vote in secrecy. Table top voting compartments could be of cardboard (see specifications in Cardboard Table Top Voting Compartment - Australia), durable materials, or as simple as an ad hoc arrangement by polling staff to place a table in a curtained off area.
Ballot boxes should also be positioned at a height and in a location which can be easily reached by the physically impaired.
Materials for the Visually Impaired
Consideration should also be given to designing materials that meet the needs of visually impaired voters. These would include:
- use of large, bold type faces on ballots, forms, posters and information leaflets;
- provision of ballot templates in Braille (for an example, see Template for Blind Voters - Elections Canada);
- the printing of a small proportion of ballots and/or information leaflets for use in voting stations in Braille.
Voter Information
The rights of visually or physically impaired voters to obtain assistance in voting at voting stations, the method by which they can exercise this right, and any other special voting arrangements available for their use, should be a basic and prominent feature of voter information campaigns.
To assist the physically disabled, pre-voting day information on voting site locations, whether provided through media advertising, public meetings or direct communications to voters, should include information on which voting station locations are suitable for access by disabled voters.
To reach visually or hearing impaired voters with voter information communications requires a mix of information delivery methods, rather than reliance solely on visual or aural media. Issues that should be considered during information delivery planning include:
Ensuring that essential information about times, location and methods of voting is available in both visual and aural form. This may be as simple as ensuring that print media information (via posters, pamphlets, advertising or information feature placements) is also available through radio and public meeting formats. And conversely, where there is reliance on public meetings or radio for information dissemination, simple print information documents (which also will need to take into account general literacy levels) should also be readily available. If there is heavy reliance on television advertising for voter information, care in design is required to ensure that each advertisement imparts the same information both visually and aurally.
Use of community groups and medical facilities for the physically, visually and hearing impaired to relay voter information, with environment-appropriate controls that such information is being relayed in a politically neutral manner.
Use of large typefaces or, where possible, Braille print in printed voter information materials, both before voting day and for display in voting stations, ballot papers and election forms.
Provision of special information materials if available funding allows and where facilities for their use are available. For the visually impaired these could be voter information cassette tapes, or materials in Braille. For the hearing impaired these could encompass use of standard sign language communications at public meetings or in television advertising.
