Australia's peak blindness organisations have been working with the Australian Electoral Commission over the past several years to secure a fundamental human right for Australians who are blind or vision impaired – access to an independent, secret and verifiable ballot in the federal election.

This year's election will bring that right closer for the estimated 300,000 Australians who have previously depended on family, friends or polling station staff to assist them in completing their ballot. Voters who are blind or vision impaired will be able to cast their ballot using their phone wherever they are on September 14.

While not a completely independent ballot, this year's federal election will be one step closer to the independence, privacy and trust that most Australians take for granted when they cast a ballot in the federal election.

In order to use this voting method, eligible voters must register for accessible voting by calling the Australian Electoral Commission's Blind and Low Vision call centre beginning on 26 August 2013.

Registered voters will be issued with credentials, which will need to be quoted when the voter calls to vote. This allows the voter to be marked off the roll without disclosing their name and therefore the voter's details will not be linked with the ballot paper. These credentials can be provided to registered voters via post, SMS, phone call or email. Voters will be able to choose one or more of these options.

The voting period officially begins on 27 August 2013 and closes at 6.00pm AEST on 14 September 2013.

For more information, contact Blind Citizens Australia via:
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 1800 033 660
Website: www.bca.org.au