Voting accessibility challenges

VOTING is compulsory, and for many this is a simple process, however for people with accessibility requirements, some further research into the facilities at the various polling stations is needed.
Exploring the different options available at the shire’s polling stations does raise some wheelchair accessibility issues, and it’s hoped that works will be carried out in the future to make these facilities more wheelchair friendly.

Hearing

Virtual Auslan interpreters are available at all of the polling locations in Murrindindi Shire. To access this, voters will need to use the Convo Australia app, and by scanning the QR code on the poster at the…

Vision

No text to speech pens are available in Murrindindi Shire voting locations. These pens help voters by reading text out loud.
People who are blind or have low vision can cast their vote using the Australian Electoral Commission’s…

Sensory conditions

Alternative voting rooms, for people with sensory and sensitivity conditions, are available at five locations, Flowerdale, Kinglake West, Toolangi, Marysville and Narbethong. This unfortunately means that some….

Wheelchairs

Only Kinglake and Narbethong are wheelchair accessible without assistance. In both Narbethong and Kinglake, only one parking space is compliant with Australian standards. In Narbethong, there are no other designated accessible parking spaces available, and in Kinglake, there are other designated accessible parking spaces available.
Assisted wheelchair access is available at….

Assisted voting

If you need assistance to vote, you can ask someone to help you. Polling place staff are trained to assist you, or you can nominate a friend, relative or another person.

Dementia

People in the early stages of dementia, who are still capable of understanding the nature and significance of enrolment and voting, may be able to continue to enrol and vote. Further information for people….

Residential facilities and hospitals

Mobile voting is an in-person voting service delivered by AEC staff. Mobile voting teams will visit many people who can’t travel to a polling place including people living in residential facilities….

An additional note about clothing

It is also worth noting that the AEC does not regulate what voters wear, as long as it’s not directing people to vote a certain way. Such clothing is forbidden within six metres of the polling place. Often polling officials…..

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