[gui-talk] Fwd: The Australian - 'Polling booths site for poor eyes'

[Steve Pattison]

>To: bca-l at yahoogroups.com.au
>From: John Power john.power at bca.org.au
>
>THE AUSTRALIAN
>TUE 05 SEP 2006
>Polling booths site for poor eyes
>By Selina Mitchell
>
>A LIMITED trial of electronic voting for blind and vision-impaired 
>Australians must include special booths in rural areas as well as 
>major cities, according to Blind Citizens Australia executives.
>The booths must be well-lit, have adequate large-print and braille 
>signage and be easily accessible for blind and vision-impaired 
>people, executive officer Nadia Mattiazzo said.
>"We are happy to see even a limited trial go ahead, but there are a 
>number of things we need to be vigilant about,'' she said.
>The Howard Government announced last month it would test 
>electronically assisted voting for blind and vision-impaired people 
>at the next federal election.
>Technology will be used to allow about 150,000 people to vote 
>unassisted for the first time at a federal election, but only at 30 
>polling booths across the country.
>If the trial is successful it could be extended at the 2010 election.
>It is anticipated blind and vision-impaired people will use 
>headphones, a voice-prompted software program and a braille keyboard 
>to cast their vote.
>The vote will be reviewed and printed so it can be physically lodged 
>in the ballot box.
>The Australian Electoral Commission, which will conduct the trial, 
>said it was too early to make comment on how the system would work.
>Legislation to allow for the voting changes will be drafted in coming months.
>Disability groups will meet the commission this month to discuss the 
>details of the project, including the best location of the special booths.
>Ms Mattiazzo warned against positioning the booths in back rooms in 
>major cities.
>"There must be polling booths in rural areas to ensure fair access 
>to the system, and they must all be located in central areas close 
>to public transport, in areas people would be familiar with,'' she said.
>"There must be adequate lighting for those who do have some vision.''
>Blind Citizens Australia president Robert Altamore said there must 
>also be an "easy path of travel'' to the ballot box itself.
>Voters must have advance knowledge of their new electronic option so 
>they can build up the confidence required to try the new method of 
>voting, he said.
>"We will work with the Electoral Commission to ensure security and 
>trust in the system,'' Mr Altamore said.
>"Despite the short time in which we have to work, we are confident 
>it can be done in time for the next election.''
>
>Link: 
><http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20351074%5e15319%5e%5enbv%5e15306,00.html>http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20351074^15319^^nbv^15306,00.html 
>
>

Regards Steve
Email:  srp at internode.on.net
Skype:  steve1963
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