Policy Submission: Select Committee on Matters Related to the General Election of 20 March 2010
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JFA Purple Orange made this submission to the Legislative Council Select Committee on Matters Related to the General Election of 20 March 2010.
The Julia Farr Association believes that the inquiry into matters related to the General Election of 20 March 2010 is timely in the current environment. There is a commitment in South Australia’s 2007 Strategic Plan to explore ways to ensure people living with disability are actively engaged in their community. Further, there is international emphasis through the UN Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities ratified by the Australian Government in July 2008, that measures are put in place to ensure people living with disability can fully participate in political life on an equal basis as others.
The present inquiry provides the opportunity to assess ways in which the provision of voting services can further reflect the rights and needs of people living with disability.
Recommendations
Recommendation 1 – Ensure voting services uphold the place of people living with disability as valued citizens at the core of our communities
We recommend that voting services uphold the place of people living with disability as valued citizens at the core of our communities through ensuring people have equal access and opportunities to vote as non-disabled citizens.
Recommendation 2 – Ensure all polling booths are physically accessible
We recommend that all polling booths are physically accessible to ensure that people living with disability, and people who are ageing, have equal access and opportunity to visibly exercise their right to vote on election days.
Recommendation 3 – Provision of information about election processes and candidates in a wider range of alternative formats
We recommend that information about election processes and candidates are provided in a wider range of alternative formats to better respond to the diverse needs of people living with disability.
Recommendation 4 – Provision of advertising and awareness campaigns about people’s right to vote that are responsive to the diverse needs of people living with disability
Recommendation 5 – Provision of electronic voting machines to enable people living with disability, or people who require assistance with printed format, to vote in secret at polling centres
We recommend that a system like the one used by the Commonwealth be made available to enable people living with disability, and other people requiring assistance with printed format, to exercise their right to vote in secret.