Media release – Guy Barnett, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, 5 March 2025
Bill to support more eligible Tasmanians to cast their vote in elections
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has today introduced the Electoral Amendment (Alternative Voting Procedures) Bill 2025.
This will allow the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) to approve appropriate alternative voting procedures to facilitate voting for electors who are experiencing barriers to accessing traditional voting services such as voting in person or by post.
Approved procedures may include but are not limited to electronic voting services such as telephone voting.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, said this was an important milestone in ensuring all Tasmanians can access their democratic right.
“These are important reforms that will benefit Tasmanians with a vision impairment, blindness or other print disability, such as physical dexterity difficulties, learning disability, brain injury, and those with a literacy issue,” the Attorney-General said.
“The TEC has indicated it will look to make use of this legislation for elections as soon as practical once it has commenced.
“These reforms address concerns raised by disability advocacy groups about the challenges experienced by voters with vision impairment or ‘print disability’ in casting an independent and secret vote.
“Importantly the Bill provides a mechanism for ongoing input from advocates and representatives from the disability community and others in the development of alternative voting procedures.
“I acknowledge the contributions of disability advocacy organisations and people within the disability community that have been instrumental in the development of the Bill.”
Media release – Disability Voices Tasmania, 6 March 2025
Tasmanians with disability welcome Electoral Act changes
Organisations representing people with a print disability have welcomed the tabling of a Bill in Parliament aimed at providing alternative ways to vote such as telephone voting, for use by electors who are facing accessibility barriers to voting at a polling place or by post.
This includes Tasmanians with a print disability including people with vision impairment or blindness, physical dexterity difficulties, learning disability, brain injury, dementia and those with literacy issues.
The Bill clarifies the authority and responsibility of the Electoral Commissioner to approve alternative voting procedures to address barriers to independent and secret voting for people with print disability.
“Disability Voices Tasmania, Blind Citizens Australia’s Tasmanian branch and other key community groups have been lobbying the Tasmanian Electoral Commission and Government for several years for this amendment to be tabled and we welcome the Attorney General’s willingness to take action,” said Vaughn Bennison CEO of Disability Voices Tasmania.
“We are particularly pleased to see that the Bill makes it clear organisations like Disability Voices Tasmania may make a request to the Commission regarding the need for alternative voting procedures”, said Mr Bennison, “This means that barriers can be addressed at a systemic level rather than leaving it up to individuals to seek their own remedies”.
