Tactile voting template for the visually impaired
PEOPLE who are blind or visually impaired are being offered the chance to try out the new tactive ballot template which will be used in the upcoming referendum.
Following a landmark High Court case taken by visually-impaired Dubliner Robbie Sinnott, those without full sight will be able to vote in secret for the first time as, thanks to the new tactile mechanism being introduced, they will no longer need to rely on others to help them vote the way they wish.
In anticipation of the upcoming referendum, the National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) is inviting the 1,485 people with sight loss in Wicklow to come and try out the tactile templates so that they know what to expect when the time comes to vote.
The template is a clear, plastic device which is placed over the ballot paper and features raised lettering, large print and braille.
It also has cut out sections to assist people to find where to mark their vote.
‘ This is an historic year for people who are blind or vision impaired,’ said Chris White, CEO of the NCBI. ‘Up to now their vote was not secret, they had to discuss their choice with somebody else and they could not even be sure that their preferred vote went into the ballot box.
‘We are urging people with sight loss to contact the NCBI in advance of the upcoming referendum and try out the tactile templates to ensure they are comfortable and at ease using them. Our regional offices will be equipped with the templates and there will be ample time for people to have the opportunity to try them.’
Templates are available in the following offices: Clondalkin Solas Centre, Unit 7&8, Oakfield Industrial Estate, Clondalkin, call 01 4056950; Teach Failte, Kilkenny Road in Carlow, call (059) 9130104; and the Lochrann Centre, Cinema Lane in Wexford, call 053 9124342.
The templates will be available at every polling station around the country and have been produced by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, which took on board design recommendations from the NCBI.