Secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities —
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Secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities

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 undue influence on the voter to vote in a particular way.

However, for some visually and physically challenged voters allowing them to be assisted in marking the ballot paper is the only way they can exercise their right to vote. Rules for such assistance need to be very carefully considered, to minimize the possibilities of manipulation.

Different solutions, influenced by the level of trust in societal institutions, are used in determining who may be allowed to assist a physically or visually challenged person to vote. The most appropriate method will vary from one context or environment to another. However, there are some general guidelines that should be considered:

A person known to and accompanying the voter or designated by the voter would normally be the first preference for assisting the voter to vote. Such persons would generally be required to be of voting age themselves.

Where the person designated by the voter to mark the ballot on their behalf and according to their instructions exists, there should be no need to monitor the vote. However, in some contexts certain categories of people are excluded from accompanying voters to mark their ballots. Examples of these include persons on whom the voter may be dependent or who may have some societal influence over the voter.

In some cases, when a voter with a disability has not designated a specific person to assist them, then a poll worker should be available to complete the voter's ballot according to the voter’s instructions. In such cases, party and candidate representatives (representing several parties) will ideally be present to witness the vote, to ensure that the voter's instructions are followed. Party poll watchers should not be allowed to attempt to influence the voter in the vote. Where poll workers are political nominees and not independent appointments, a minimum of two representatives from different political parties should be present if a voter requires their assistance in voting.

When ballots are marked or chosen on behalf of voters requiring assistance, the voting process should be carried out within a voting compartment, or booth.

There is the additional question of whether voters with disabilities should specifically register as "assisted voters" prior to voting day. In some instances, this is seen as a bureaucratic imposition and, given implementation of policies in line with the guidelines above, does not enhance the integrity of assisted votes.

N.B. The views of members of the ACE Practitioners' Network on this question can be read in the consolidated reply: Secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities.

See also the ACE Focus On Elections and Disability.   


In your view, what is the best way to protect the secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities who require assistance at the polling station?

  • The voter may nominate their own assistant.
  • The voter may choose an assistant from among polling officials.
  • A polling official is assigned as an assistant to the voter.
  • Other.
Total votes
713 people have voted on this poll.
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Secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities

Posted by Mukti Ram Rijal at Oct 01, 2012 01:46 PM
in my opinion the voters may nominate their assistant among their relatives or may choose among polling staffs.

Secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities

Posted by Mncedisi, Michael Ntulini at Jan 14, 2013 01:01 PM
In South Africa we have developed the Universal Ballot Template (UBT)which by far outweigh all other means to ensure the secrecy of the vote.

Voters may nominate their own assistants

Posted by Bucumi Julius at Jan 29, 2013 10:22 AM
If there is no way or new technology for people living with disability to vote by thermselves, it is better to choose their assistants to keep the secrecy of vote.

In life, many people have other people they trust that they can not violate or divulgate their secrecy. Those trusted people are going to act legally on behalf of their mandants in the given limits. The assistants must respect the law and protect the trust given to them.

It is true that there is no guarantee at 100% that the secrecy will be kept. Few people may divulgate that secrecy of things. It is the same for the secrecy of vote. There are people who can even divulgate their own secrecy of things or vote aiming some interests. People living with disability are going to feel disappointed by some the people they trusted to vote for them.Deception may occur in many matters in life. But is better than not voting beacause there will be few cases of people who can violate teh secrecy of vote.
I may advise to focus on the conditions or legal procedure of delegation of power to the assistants. There should be strong regulations to protect the secrecy of vote, strong punishment for people who may violate the secrecy of vote to minimize as much as possible the cases of that violation of secrecy of vote.



Secrecy of the Ballot for Voters with Disabilities

Posted by Henry Makabayi at May 14, 2013 02:41 PM
I wish to share an experience where I presided over elections of Mambers of Parliament for persons with disabilities in Uganda. We provided for brail ballot papers for the blind members of the electoral college. The said blind voters preferred to use their assistants so that they could use the same ballot papers as those used by the other voters who had no visual empairment. The felt their vote was more secret if it was not distinguishable from any other. They felt the blind who could read brail ballots were few and the way they voted could be identified.

Whereas we thought using brail ballots would enhance secrecy of their votes, the blind voters did not want their voting pattern to be singled out during counting.

Secrecy of the ballot for voters with diabilities

Posted by Shamba Phiri at Nov 20, 2012 10:21 AM
For visually challenged voters, would it possible to implement the brail ballot paper? This might be expensive to produce but worthwhile as not many ballot papers for blind would be produced. Again, this will depend if the visually challenged voter is able to read brail, which in this case, let the person be guided by a relative while casting the vote in the presence of two electoral monitors.

voters with disabilities

Posted by Handren at Jan 07, 2013 12:21 PM
i think the voters should nominate an assistant among their relatives, why:
1- any assistant from polling officials is not welcome by political parties.
2- Secrecy of voter vote.

Secrecy of the Vote for Visually Impaired

Posted by Manuel Wally at Jan 28, 2013 10:21 AM
IFES developed a tool that allows visually impaired voters to mark the ballot without assistance. Each polling station is supplied with a ballot cardboard sleeve that allows for tactile location of marking fields.
http://electionaccess.org

secrecy of vote by the voter with disability

Posted by Lydia Macheli at Feb 22, 2013 10:48 AM
the ballot paper should be printed in braille
l. macheli

Disable voting

Posted by Asante Kissi at Mar 26, 2013 03:54 PM
In Ghana, we have what is called the tactile ballot folder for the blind which works perfectly for them. By using the tactile ballot folder, the blind is able to vote by counting the dots placed on the folder which identified individual candidates and then placed their thumb in the boxe created on the folder for each candidate. Aside this, the disable, weak and the aged are allowed to bring a relative as an assistant to help them to vote. In the absence of a relative, a poll worker preferably the Presidng officer is authorised to assist a disable, the weak or aged. The current challenge is the cripple who can vote on their own but are unable to use the upstanding voting screen. So in my view, a combination of solutions gives the disable voter a lot of options and i think is the best.

Secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities

Posted by Michael Maley at May 14, 2013 02:40 PM
Much will depend on the type of disability. For example, blind or low vision voters may be able to vote without any assistance, if the EMB provides Braille ballots, tactile templates, or computer assisted voting mechanisms.

Secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities.

Posted by Kisimba Lumbwe Albert at May 14, 2013 02:41 PM
A mon avis le vote des personnes assistées est d’abord un problème sérieux que les OGE doivent résoudre durant les séances de formations des agents de bureaux de vote, sinon cela crée souvent une source de tricherie organisée et même de troubles au BVD ; le vote est une affaire de confiance et décision personnelle, il est donc bon que l’électeur vienne avec son assistant.

Secrecy of the ballot for persons with disabilities

Posted by Akua at Jul 02, 2013 02:18 PM
In the first place, persons with disabilities are not a homogeneous group. It is therefore improper to try to find a single solution for them. There are different kinds of visually impaired persons. Some may need very large fonts/pictures to be able to identify their preference; some may need brail and others may need other interventions. Since it is possible for some blind people to identify currency denominations, it should be possible for them to identify the characters and pictures on a ballot paper is due attention is paid to ascertain what helps them to identify things on paper.

Secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities

Posted by boguejiofor at Aug 14, 2013 02:12 PM
In my view I think is better for the disable to choose his/her own assistant during casting a ballot to protect the secrecy of his/her vote. However in the Nigerian Electoral Act it is clearly stated that “A voter who is blind or is otherwise unable to distinguish symbols or who suffers from any other physical disability may be accompanied into the polling unit by a person chosen by him and that person shall, after informing the Presiding Officer of the disability, be permitted to accompany the voter into the voting compartment and assist the voter to make his mark in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Commission i. e. the Election Management Body”.

secrecy of the ballot

Posted by Tetteh Ankama Okyne at Sep 10, 2013 09:06 AM
Blind voters could be thought to vote using a Brill thanks

Secrecy of the ballot for Voters with Disabilities

Posted by Florence Kebbie at Jan 27, 2014 12:22 PM
In my opinion, the voter must be given the opportunity to nominate who to assist him/her to vote. We are talking about 'right' here, and that right can best be demonstrated when the individual decides on whom he/she trusts to assist them.
 This could not necessarily be the person accompanying them since sometimes people who do accompany may not be eligible to vote, or may not be the best choice of the voter; sometimes such people are even paid to accompany.
If however there is concern about those who accompany these voters, for some obvious reasons as those stated above, then voter education must disseminate this information like any other message for elections. So on polling day these people would have been well prepared to come with people they trust for assistance. Allowing polling staff to assist especially in post conflict countries sometimes do cause a lot of confusion and has even led to suspension of polls for some hours or minutes, and in whatever way we may look at it, being a referee, we need to be removed from knowing where anyone is voting. Sometimes political parties can even use this situation to discredit the electoral commission, and undermine the electoral process which is a high risk for sustainable peace.

My comment

Posted by Kodjo Messan at Apr 16, 2014 09:19 AM
To best way to protect the secrecy of the ballot for voters with disabilities is: first, to give respect to the voter and second to inform the voter on what he can do, I mean, explain him the contain of the Electoral law on this matter and after that, allow him to do what is the best for him. He must feel free to vote.

ballot for voters with disabilities

Posted by Shipra Chowdhury at Apr 16, 2014 09:20 AM
The voter may nominate their own assistant.

Using remote voting, special voting machines or voting plates

Posted by Manuel J. Kripp at Apr 16, 2014 09:37 AM
The use of technology should not be neglected especially for support of visually impaired or in their mobility limited voters. Remote voting systems for special voters group is one alternative.
Special voting machines in polling stations for visually impaired voters is another option.
The challenge with relying on Brail is that only 5-10% of the blind citizens are able to read it, therefore only a minority can be assisted with this technology.
Therefore the use of remote voting or voting machines with special technologies such as screen reader compatibility allow visually impaired voters an independent and self-determined participation in an election.
If technology is not the preferred option or not feasible at the moment an alternative are voting gauge or voting plates which have place holders or outrivaled spaces where to make the cross and an orientation mark for the voter to adjust the ballot paper within the plate. Therefore the voter can use the normal polling station to cast her or his vote and only needs assistance for entering the polling station, getting the ballot papers and throwing the ballot paper in the ballot box. In such cases it is important to have well-trained polling station staff who are able to explan to the voter the way the plate works. Such voting plates are currently used e.g. in Austria.