15 October 2014

Electoral Commission introduces that Extra Touch for Blind New Zealanders

The Electoral Commission was presented with the Extra Touch Award by the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand (Blind Citizens NZ), in recognition of its successful implementation of Telephone Dictation Voting ahead of its commitment to do so by 2020 and, its enthusiasm to receive and act on all feedback from blind and vision impaired voters.

Blind Citizens NZ’s Extra Touch Award recognises an individual or organisation where, as part of catering to the general public, an outstanding contribution is made towards improvement in access or service to blind and vision impaired people.

Mr Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Commissioner, received the award on behalf of the Electoral Commission during the Annual General Meeting and Conference of Blind Citizens NZ in Auckland on Saturday 11 October 2014.

Clive Lansink, National President said “the Extra Touch Award is one of Blind Citizens NZ’s most prestigious awards, and I am proud to have presented this to the Electoral Commission.” He went on to say “the Chief Electoral Commissioner Robert Peden has overseen the implementation of Telephone Dictation Voting. Prior to the election, the Electoral Commission worked enthusiastically with Blind Citizens NZ and the Blind Foundation to test the process using blind and vision impaired voters ourselves.”

When we vote, blind people would have to turn up to the polling booth and tell someone else physically present who we are voting for. We could not cast a confidential vote like everyone else takes for granted. This new system of telephone dictation voting enables voters who are blind or vision impaired or have another disability that means they are unable to vote independently and in secret i.e. unable to fill in their ballot paper on their own, to vote using the telephone. You first register and obtain a confidential number and secret question. Later you phone back and vote using that information so the person at the other end does not know who you are.

714 people voted this way in this year's general election. Clive said “that's pretty good given the system was ready only in mid August. It was a truly liberating experience, because for the first time in New Zealand’s history, we were able to cast a confidential vote completely on our own without leaving home.”

Blind Citizens NZ applauds and congratulates the Electoral Commission for its inclusive, consultative approach, and for championing the rights of New Zealand’s blind and vision impaired voters.

Founded in 1945, the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand Inc (Blind Citizens NZ) is New Zealand's leading blindness consumer organisation and one of the country's largest organisations of disabled consumers. Our aim is to heighten awareness of the rights of blind and vision impaired people and to remove the barriers that impact upon our ability to live in an accessible, equitable and inclusive society.

ENDS

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