The AEC (Australian Electoral Commission) is working hard to provide equitable access to voting for people with disability.
With the federal election looming, they have provided a range of accessible information and services that will be available to support participation.
Recent changes to the Commonwealth Electoral Act have modernised language, and enhanced access to voter services by broadening the eligibility criteria for postal and pre-poll voting to include people with disability and their carers.
Alternative voting options are available for people unable to attend a polling place or those who cannot vote on election day. These include:
- * Telephone voting – for voters who are blind or have low vision
- * Postal voting – for voters, including people with disability and those caring for them. Applications for a one-off postal vote will open when the election is announced to then receive ballot papers in the mail. If the voter has difficulty writing, a friend or family member can help a person complete the ballot paper and envelope.
To receive ballot papers in the mail for all future elections people can apply to be registered as a general postal voter. - * Early voting will be available and commence two weeks before election day. The AEC anticipates that over 500 early voting centres will open nationally.
- * Mobile voting teams will visit many people who can’t travel to a polling place including people living in residential facilities for people with disability, residential aged care, and in some hospitals and mental health facilities.
- * Polling place assistance – people who need assistance to vote can be supported by a person they nominate, such as a family member, friend or carer. AEC staff are also trained and available to assist people where required.
Accessibility of services
The AEC’s commitment to increase the number of accessible polling places for the next election will see around 7,000 polling places for the 2025 election for both early voting and on election day. Of these approximately 43% will be fully wheelchair accessible and a further 48% will have assisted wheelchair access.
Once the election has been called, locations and hours of polling places will be published on the ‘Where to vote’ tool on the AEC website (https://www.aec.gov.au/voting/ways_to_vote/). This will include the accessibility rating and services for each polling place so that voters are able to make informed decisions about the most appropriate polling place to visit.
The AEC will also maintain the use of assistive technology including:
- * Auslan interpreters – every polling place offers access to a virtual Auslan interpreter service, accessed by scanning the QR code on the poster in the polling place.
- * Hearing loops and text to speech pens will be available in selected polling places in each electoral division. The location of these devices can be searched in the ‘Where to vote’ tool on the AEC website (https://www.aec.gov.au/voting/ways_to_vote/) or by calling 13 23 26.
Physical Disability Australia – PDA will provide updates as they are made available.
