Voting in the Federal Election 2010
The upcoming federal election will be held on Saturday 21 August 2010.
On this page:
Graeme Innes Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner voting at our Enfield centre
Telephone voting
For the first time in history, voters who are blind or have low vision will have the option to attend an AEC divisional office or selected site where they can be connected to skilled contact centre polling officials to anonymously complete their ballot papers.
Previously, Australians who are blind have had to rely on friends, family or even strangers to assist them with voting.
At the August federal election, an Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) contact centre will be phoned when a person who is blind or has low vision presents at a designated telephone voting location (AEC divisional offices and seven other selected sites) to vote. In order to keep the vote secret, the voter's name will be marked off before they are connected to the contact centre so the contact centre will not be told who is calling.
This system was developed by the AEC, in collaboration with Vision Australia, the Human Rights Commission, and Blind Citizens Australia. At future federal elections, it is planned that an electronic system will be available.
Example of a telephone vote
Frequently asked questions
Voting locations
A number of polling booths will be located at Vision Australia centres. These booths are also for pre poll and absentee voting.
The seven (7) locations open from Wednesday 4 August 2010 are:
- NSW - Vision Australia, 4 Mitchell St, Enfield, NSW 2136
- VIC - Vision Australia, 454 Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong, VIC 3144
- VIC - Vision Australia, 79 High St, Belmont, VIC 3216
- VIC - Vision Australia, 2A Mouritz St, Warragul VIC 3820
- QLD - Queen Alexandra House, 347 Old Cleveland Rd, Coorparoo QLD 4151 (adjacent to Vision Australia's new premises at 373 Old Cleveland Road). Voters can go directly to Queen Alexandra House where designated AEC staff will assist them to cast their vote by telephone or voters can go to Vision Australia's office where staff can arrange for them to be escorted to Queen Alexandra House to be introduced to AEC staff.
- WA - Association for the Blind - Guide Dogs WA, 61 Kitchener Ave, Victoria Park WA 6100
- SA - Royal Society for the Blind, Blacks Rd, Gilles Plains SA 5086
From 4 August 2010, up to and including election day (21 August 2010), telephone voting will be available in selected locations across Australia to enable electors who are blind or have low vision to cast a secret vote.
The locations will include Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) divisional offices and blind service provider sites in capital cities. For more information call 13 23 26 and ask where your nearest AEC Divisional office is and whether it will have telephone voting.
Official guide available in alternative formats
Vision Australia is working with the Australian Electoral Commission to make information accessible.
'Your official guide to the 2010 federal election' is available on audio CD, in braille and in large print.
People who are members of Vision Australia's library, or who receive services from the Association for the Blind of WA or the Royal Society for the Blind of SA, will receive a guide in the mail in their preferred format on or shortly after 9 August 2010. If you do not receive your accessible copy through these mail outs, please 'phone 13 23 26 to order.
Talking Vision discusses the Federal Election
'Talking Vision' is Vision Australia's national radio program on blindness and low vision.
26 July 2010
The program of 26 July 2010 highlights the special arrangements enabling people who are blind or have low vision to cast a secret vote at the 2010 Federal election.
- Robyn Gaile, Executive Officer of Blind Citizens Australia, explains the significance of this initiative for Australians with vision loss
- Phil Diak, spokesperson for the Australian Electoral Commision, outlines the arrangements for people to access voting options
- Stephen Jolley, program presenter, participates in a simulated telephone vote with Judy Birkenhead, an AEC representative
- Michael Simpson, Vision Australia General Manager Policy and Advocacy, comments on this breakthrough for Australians who are blind or who have low vision.
02 August 2010
The program of 2 August 2010 focuses on how disability issues are being addressed during the current Federal Election campaign.
- Stephen Jolley speaks with Maryanne Diamond, Vision Australia General Manager responsible for Government Relations and Robyn Gaile, Executive Officer of Blind Citizens Australia.
- We explain how people who are blind or have low vision can vote anonymously at the election
Australian Electoral Commission contact details
Your chance to get involved
Get involved in Vision Australia's Federal Election Campaign 2010 by:
Latest election news and Vision Australia's responses
This page last updated: 11 August 2010