asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware of the embarrassment caused to blind voters who are not illiterate, but must vote as such because they cannot see the ballot paper; and if he will state whether his Department has any plans for the relief of such embarrassment at future elections.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Voters.
I am aware that complaints have been made that embarrassment is caused by the procedure whereby the presiding officer at a polling station marks the ballot paper of a blind voter in the presence of the agents. I do not accept the suggestion that the procedure implies illiteracy. Voters whose sight is impaired are clearly distinguished from illiterate voters in the rules governing elections. I can assure the Deputy, however, that I have every sympathy with the suggestion that embarrassment may be caused by the procedure and I would be most anxious to do everything practicable that would remove any possibility of embarrassment without incurring the risk of electoral abuses. So far it has not been found possible to devise a practicable alternative means which would give the blind voter the same safeguards as he is afforded by the existing procedure.