Accessibility Action Plan for the 2008 General Election

1 November 2007  update

Introduction

• In preparing for the 2008 general election, the Chief Electoral Office, the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Enrolment Centre consulted disability groups and developed an action plan, Access ’08, to improve accessibility.

• 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.

• Progress towards each of the above priority objectives is outlined below.

Content and format of electoral information

• Meetings have been held with People First, the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand and the Deaf Association of New Zealand to discuss the content and format of electoral information for 2008. Meetings with other organisations will follow. Regular consultation and collaboration with disability groups will be at the heart of the electoral agencies’ outreach efforts as election year approaches.

• Written and online resources are being updated to ensure voting options for people with disabilities are clear. This will include 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.

• Enrolment information for the local council elections was communicated through the National Foundation of the Blind’s Telephone Information Service. The Electoral Enrolment Centre promoted this service with the other local government agencies running the local elections such as the Ministry of Health and Department of Internal Affairs.

Voters with learning disabilities

• A simple, plain language resource on the elections will be produced in consultation with people with learning disabilities. It will be made well in advance of the election so that there is time for widespread distribution, use and assimilation of information.

Deaf and hearing-impaired voters

• The sign language DVD that was made in 2005 will be updated and distributed well in advance of the election. 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.

Blind and vision-impaired voters

• Electoral information will be provided in variety of formats, including audio, large print and Braille.

Distribution of information

• Both consultations for Access ’08 and subsequent meetings with various organisations have emphasised the need for information to reach the user at least several months before election day. Over the next few months, a timetable for the production of electoral resources will be drawn up so that material is available for distribution at the optimum time for each organisation.

• Liaison has begun with disability groups in relation to forums and workshops next year, at which electoral staff give presentations.

• Enrolment information and articles about how to enrol for the local council elections were provided to organisations to share with their members and audiences.

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. All advance voting facilities will be accessible without assistance.

• 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 were field-tested during the referendum in Tokelau and, if proved suitable, they will be available for next year’s election.

• Disability awareness training is being built into the training for returning officers and election day workers. This training will take place in 2008.