Hi all,
Prior to these machines being withdrawn, there was a discussion on Limerick
radio with a panel of speakers representing different groups and
organisations discussing the pros and cons of electronic voting. However,
as there was no mention made of the fact that these machines were not
suitable for blind or visually impaired voters, I rang the programme and
pointed out, that I as a blind person could access my home computer with a
screen reader without any difficulty, and yet, when these machines were
designed the forethought was not there to make these computers accessible.
Nobody on the programme was aware that these machines were not accessible
for those of us with visual impairments. This is just another example of
the lack of awareness that is out there and we need to be mindful of this
with another election pending.
Noreen M.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Dromey" <pdromey@xxxxxx>
To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 6:47 PM
Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Voting and the vision impaired!
It's not so much the actual boycott that would make an impact, rather the threat of doing so if the exercise of our franchise cannot be seen to be carried out in a totally private and confidential manner. The idea is to use the threat as a method for getting the message across.
In the end, boycotting or spoiling our votes will achieve nothing in itself.
To be honest, there are issues more important for us than this one right
now. However, if electronic voting looks like coming back into the picture
any time soon, we should be out there doing everything possible to ensure
that the machines are accessible. I know that some of you have been
commendably active in this area in the past.
Paul D
-----Original Message----- From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Flor Lynch Sent: 26 July 2006 17:53 To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Voting and the vision impaired!
What would grab even more attention, and better, in my humble view, is if we
threatened to go and spoil our votes in protest against the present
inaccessibility. (Not a course of action to be taken lightly, I hasten to
add.) I haven't had a problem with not having a companion of my choosing
accompany me into the booth. Election boycotts, unless they are massive,
seldom or never work the way they're intended.
----- Original Message -----From: "Tim Culhane" <tim.culhane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 4:51 PM Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Voting and the vision impaired!
Hi,
I have never had problems been accompanied into the voting booth by a family member?
It is true that the current voting machines are unusable by the blind or
partially sighted, given that there is no audible interface to the
machine, and I believe there are problems with font size and text contrast
on the display.
Not sure how useful a boycott of the election would be ... Given that we are
a tiny minority, and spread so thinly throughout so many constituencies.
However, it would certainly grab attention.
Cheers,
Tim
-----Original Message-----From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx[mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Paul Dromey Sent: 26 July 2006 16:47 To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Voting and the vision impaired!
Hi Paul and everyone.
My own solution to this one was to opt for a postal vote. It still doesn't
give complete privacy but, at least, it avoids the indignity of the polling
officer or clerk insisting on accompanying us into the booth, since they
won't allow a companion to do it.
It's pretty safe to say that there won't be electronic voting at the next General Election - the whole subject is a political hot potato these days. In any case, the voting machines now in storage were of no use to vision impaired voters as I understand it, at least not without further tweaking that might or might not work.
Certainly, VICS and NCBI should be lobbying on this one, the problem being
that the whole subject of electronic voting seems to be dead in the water
with the powers that b, so nobody is listening. Perhaps the opposition
parties might respond to lobbying and use it as another stick to beat the
Government, at least that would keep the subject alive and in the forefront
for when electronic voting is back on the national agenda. If we find
ourselvees completely ignored on this one, we could always to boycott the
election on the grounds that we feel that we do not have a proper and secret
franchise. That should get their attention!
Paul D.
-----Original Message-----From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx[mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Lists Sent: 26 July 2006 16:23 To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [vicsireland] Voting and the vision impaired!
Hi All,
As it looks like there will be a general election next year I was just
wondering where are we the vision impaired this time round in relation to
our ability to cast our votes in the booths provided?. I just wonder if
anyone in VICs has been in touch with the people who arrange all this. It
is now the 21st century and it seems there isn't a word on sorting out
this situation of eletronic voting and giving us proper access to vote in
private.
I would like to hear what others think about this situation as it stands at
the moment.
Regards,
Paul.
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