Since its first use in 2002, several improvements have been made to the voting machine to improve its user friendliness for the visually impaired and other users. The new features include an increase in the size and legibility of candidate details, the use of larger preference numbers and brighter displays for better visibility and the use of a redesigned cast vote button. As with previous elections, a large copy of the ballot paper will be displayed in the polling station and a voter with a visual impairment may also avail of assisted voting facilities.
In addition, my Department is examining the development of a facility for the future whereby visually impaired voters, who would otherwise require assistance to vote, will be able to use the new voting system independently. My Department will be consulting with the National Disability Authority and the National Council for the Blind, which have already provided constructive input into the improvements made to the voting machine, regarding the development of that voting machine feature.
Existing arrangements for visually impaired voters will continue to apply in an electronic context. Those include postal voting, voting at an alternative polling station where such is requested and companion or assisted voting.
