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Access '08 - May 1 2008 Update

 

Accessibility Action Plan for the 2008 General Election

1 May 2008 update

Introduction

 
The Chief Electoral Office, the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Enrolment Centre consulted disability groups in preparation for the 2008 general election. Following the consultation an action plan, Access ’08, to improve accessibility was developed.
 
The consultation confirmed three priority areas for improvement: i) the content and format of electoral information; ii) the subsequent distribution of this information; iii) physical access and assistance at polling places.
 
An update on progress was provided on 1 November 2007. Further progress towards each of the above priority objectives is outlined below.
 

Content and format of electoral information

 
The three electoral agencies are developing resources and information in different formats to help provide improved information for people with disabilities. The agencies are working with groups and organisations to develop these resources.
 
Enrolment Forms
 
Pre-printed enrolment forms are available through the 0800 Freephone service. A person can call 0800 36 76 56 and provide details of their name, address, occupation and age and an enrolment form with these details printed on it will be sent out to them to sign and return.
 
A person can provide these details here and a pre-printed form will be sent to them to sign and return.
 
Advertising
 
Election television advertisements longer than 5 seconds will include teletext captioning. The first of these television advertisements airs on Sunday 4 May 2008 as part of the Enrolment Update Campaign – the start of the enrolment drive for the 2008 general election.
 
Website
 
The elections website has been reviewed and the design updated. This includes visual and technical changes intended to improve accessibility.
 
General information
 
Where possible general information and resources provided about how, when and where to vote includes information about the ability to take someone with you when you vote and the ability to nominate someone to collect your voting papers if you are unable to get to a polling place. This information is specifically included in the brochures “Unable to get to a polling place on election day” and “Voting in the 2008 general election - the easy way” which will be available shortly after the election date is announced. The 0800 service will be trained in relation to options for postal voting, advance voting and takeaway voting. Information about these options will be available online.
 
Information in other formats
 
Voters with learning and intellectual disabilities
A DVD is being produced to provide people with intellectual or learning disabilities in particular and their support people with information about the enrolling and voting process. Filming of the DVD has been completed and the DVD is expected to be available by the end of May 2008.
 
  • The three agencies will be working with organisations to ensure the DVD is widely available and to encourage viewings and use of the DVD.                       
  • People First, IHC and IDEA services have worked with the three electoral agencies to facilitate the development of the DVD.
  • A poster is being developed setting out what happens in a polling place is being developed.
  • A plain language booklet is being developed about enrolling and voting.
  • The booklet and poster will support the DVD, but can be used as standalone resources. These should be availably by the end of May 2008.
 The resources will be able to be accessed from the elections website and the electoral agencies. They will be provided to other organisations for use.
 
Deaf and hearing-impaired voters
 
Feedback has been sought on improvements to the sign language DVD that was made in 2005. Changes are being incorporated into a revised and updated sign language DVD for the 2008 general election.  This will be available by the end of May 2008.
 
Electoral staff will be working with local community groups to ensure the DVD resource is accessed by the deaf community; this work is expected to include community meetings and presentations.
 
The DVD will be available online in the ‘languages’ section of this website.
 
Blind and vision-impaired voters
 
The New Zealand Foundation for the Blind Telephone Information Service is being utilised to provide information about enrolling and voting.
 
Information on enrolling and the enrolment drive for 2008 will go live on 5 May.
 
The brochures “Voting in the 2008 general election, the easy way!” which includes information about enrolling, MMP and voting and wil“Two ticks? Too Easy!”  will be available in a variety of formats- including audio, large print and Braille.
 

Distribution of information

 
The three agencies have been working with various organisations on when and how the information and resources will be distributed.   
                        
  • From May, local activity in each electorate is taking place to raise awareness of how to enrol and vote. This local work carries on through until the election and involves contact with and discussions with local disability groups and communities.
 
The Electoral Commission is including disability support groups in a regional roadshow being undertaken in May and June, where stakeholders and service providers are being provided with tools, information and motivation to help their client groups participate in the election
 
Articles, information and media releases are being provided to media, organisational newsletters, publications and websites to promote enrolment and voting information. The first tranche of this material promotes the enrolment update campaign which starts on 5 May 2008.
 
Information and articles about enrolling, MMP and voting will continue in the lead up to the election.
 
The three electoral agencies will continue to work with groups and organisations to ensure information is provided to those who need it in the lead up to the election.
 

Physical access and assistance at polling places

 
The Chief Electoral Office is working to ensure that advance voting facilities and polling places are carefully assessed by electoral staff so that they give an accurate picture of accessibility.  A checklist for elections staff to use when assessing polling places and advance voting places has been finalised.
 
Tabletop voting will be available at every polling place, both on election day and in advance. Trestle tables have been ordered for each polling place.
 
Bed-top voting screens to ensure voter privacy at rest homes and hospitals will be available for this year’s election. These were field-tested during the referendum in Tokelau in 2007.
 
The use of temporary aids to improve access to polling places and advance voting facilities has been investigated but is not feasible for this election.
 
Returning Officers will be working with local groups and organisations to identify premises that can be used as polling places. This will include looking at remises used by organisations working with and involving people with disabilities.
 
Returning Officers will also work with their local community to identify and secure sign language interpreters for polling places were possible and practicable.
 
Disability awareness training is being built into the training for returning officers and election day workers. Returning officers and headquarter managers will also receive training on accessibility to, and in polling places and advance voting places. This training happens in June 2008.
 
Operations and instruction manuals for the election contain clear information and guidance about options for postal voting, advance voting and takeaway voting.
 
The Personal Instruction Manuals for Election Day Staff have been revised to include clearer instruction about the ways in which polling place staff can support people with disabilities if there is a need. This includes easy-to-use checklists about ways of supporting or communicating with people with different needs.
 
Guides for Rest Home and Hospital Managers have been updated to provide clear information about options for voting.
 
Advance voting places and polling places accessibility will be advertised in the EasyVote Information pack that goes to all enrolled electors six weeks before election day. This information will be advertising on the elections website and promoted through articles, media and organisations.
 

Other

 
The Chief Electoral Office is preparing for its post-election voter satisfaction survey. Colmar Brunton will carry out this work which will include surveying of people with disabilities. The Chief Electoral Office and Colmar Brunton plan to approach disability organisations for involvement in the survey.