[LINK] Fwd: vip-l: The Age - article: 'Blind Qld voters to gain secret ballot'

[Jan Whitaker]

Queensland, too.



>
>THE AGE
>
>Blind Qld voters to gain secret ballot
>
>November 7, 2006 - 11:49AM
>
>Queensland voters who are blind or 
>vision-impaired may soon, and for the first 
>time, get the chance to vote secretly.
>
>Currently, blind or vision-impaired voters have 
>to seek assistance from electoral officers to 
>cast their vote, putting them in a minority of 
>voters with disabilities denied a secret ballot.
>
>But the state's electoral commission plans to 
>investigate the use of electronic voting.
>
>Victoria is piloting electronic voting at its 
>state election this month, using computer voting 
>kiosks and smart cards at designated polling stations.
>
>The terminals are equipped with headphones which give spoken instructions.
>
>The voting terminals are linked to a server in 
>each polling location using a secure local area 
>network, so no votes are taken or transmitted 
>over a public network, such as the internet.
>
>Queensland's electoral commissioner, David 
>Kerslake, said he wanted to go one step further 
>and not only have electronic booths but allow 
>people with disabilities to vote online.
>
>Mr Kerslake said the commission would launch a 
>feasibility study in the new year and seek 
>public comment on the move, which would require changes to state laws.
>
>"We are keen to push ahead with this because we 
>see the issues of secrecy of the ballot and 
>access for people with disabilities as fundamental rights," Mr Kerslake said.
>
>He said a state the size of Queensland would be 
>remiss not to consider online voting, given 
>improvements in technology and computer security.
>
>Vision Australia chairman Kevin Murfitt said he 
>welcomed Queensland's move and was looking 
>forward to voting electronically at the Victorian state election.
>
>"Every time I go to the polling booth, I have to 
>ask someone to assist me," he said.
>
>"Then I have to speak my vote to that person. 
>The booths are not very sound proof and I'm sure 
>that half the people in the voting booth can 
>hear my vote and I usually leave feeling quite embarrassed.
>
>"It's not an experience I look forward to but 
>now, with this opportunity, it will really be something else."
>
>Electronic voting was piloted successfully in 
>the ACT in 2001 and used again in 2004.
>
>The Australian Electoral Commission has examined 
>the issue and is understood to be considering it 
>for the federal election due next year.
>
>© 2006 AAP
>
>
>Link: 
><http://www.theage.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Blind-Qld-voters-to-gain-secret-ballot/2006/11/07/1162661659002.html>http://www.theage.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Blind-Qld-voters-to-gain-secret-ballot/2006/11/07/1162661659002.html# 
>
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Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
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