Voting is a powerful right and obligation, and the Electoral Commission of South Australia is genuinely committed to making sure the voices of all South Australians are heard.
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD), we acknowledge and stand by our commitment and ongoing work to ensure those people living with any form of disability, can directly influence how we support people to have their say in elections.
The United Nations theme for IDPwD 2024 is 'amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.' Australians are striving for more people with disability in leadership roles and we encourage this pact.
Our influence in shaping how South Australians vote, is witnessed through our initiatives to assist eligible voters at parliamentary elections, including the recent Dunstan and Black by-elections, including:
- Polling locations and early voting centers meeting our accessibility checklist, which includes full or assisted wheelchair access, and at least two permanent or temporary accessible parking spaces,
- Promotional and advertising materials including polling place accessibility,
- Magnifying aids being available at all polling locations,
- One (at least) desktop voting screen being available at all polling locations,
- Voting outside polling places offered to enable polling officials to assist electors, by taking materials to their vehicles to cast their votes, when unable to enter the polling location,
- Declared institutions visited during early voting to capture votes, and
- Postal voting options.
Engaging with our community is vital to ensure that the voices of South Australians living with disability are heard.
We encourage people who are not able to go to attend a polling place (in a parliamentary election), to apply for a postal vote. Note; postal voting is standard for Council elections.
We encourage those who are unable to sign their name due to a physical disability to get someone else to complete their enrolment form and sign it on their behalf. A registered medical practitioner must complete and sign the medical certificate to enable this.
We attend declared institutions, such as aged care facilities, during early voting in parliamentary elections, allowing residents to vote at a voting booth set up within the residence, or from their bed if they cannot leave their room.
We use Telephone Assisted Voting (TAV) in local council elections, and this option will be available at the next state election for low vision and sight impaired voters.
Our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan is on the ECSA website and specifies key programs and their implementation at South Australian elections. We will continue to advocate for further improvements to the electoral process. As we head closer to the 2026 state election, our pact is to again seek involvement in the Electoral Disability Advisory Committee.
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Reference Links
ECSA Disability Action Plan
https://ecsa.sa.gov.au/ecsa-disability-access-and-inclusion-plan?highlight=WyJkaXNhYmlsaXR5Il0=