subject: NSW Tender for electronic voting system [print this page] NSW Tender for electronic voting system NSW Tender for electronic voting system
The NSWEC is seeking to implement an electronic voting system for the next State Government Election (SGE) in 2011, for use by electors who are blind, vision impaired, with other disabilities or living in remote areas. Nationally, there are 300,000 people who are blind or visually impaired with a third of them living in NSW.
The NSW Premier Ms Keneally announced on 16 March 2010 that the Electoral Commissioner will investigate Internet voting for visually impaired people of New South Wales improving their democratic right to a secret ballot. "We want to make sure as many people as possible participate equally in our democratic process especially in the lead up to next year's State election," Ms Keneally said.
Previously, blind and visually impaired people were only able to vote through the assistance of a friend or relative or through a large Braille ballot.
In 2008, the Administrative Decisions Tribunal found that the NSW Electoral Commission had unlawfully discriminated against a vision-impaired voter by not comply with their request for a Braille ballot paper or other means in the 2004 local government elections for the Randwick local government area.
It is intended that the system will enable people who are blind, vision impaired or with other disabilities with the ability to cast a secret and unassisted vote from home or another location. They will be able to make use of either their existing telephone or PC and internet connection, along with assistive technology and devices used in conjunction with these services, to access the "iVote" system.
The moves follow the Rudd Government announcement that it will move amendments to the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Close of Rolls and Other Measures) Bill 2010 giving blind voters the legal option of casting a secret vote.
"The right to vote in a secret ballot has been part of Australian democracy for over a century," Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, said. "We need to make sure there are no unnecessary barriers preventing any Australian from exercising their right to vote."
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) ran a trial at 29 locations across during the two week pre-polling period up to and including Election Day in the 2007 Federal elections. However given the high average cost per vote of $2,597 for electronically assisted voting compared to an average cost per elector of $8.36 at the 2007 federal election and concerns that participation would not increase to sustainable levels, a joint parliamentary committee recommended that electronically assisted voting for electors who are blind or have low vision should not be continued at future federal elections.
The NSWtender for the Electronic Voting System closes on the 17th July.
