Terms of reference for Electoral Council of Australia access subcommittee
The Terms of Reference below have been developed by the Electoral Council of Australia in consultation with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. In 1999, following a complaint to the commission regarding a NSW Local Government Election, HREOC held a Public Inquiry into Access to the Electoral Process. The submissions and other information about the inquiry are on the website at http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/inquiries/electoral/electoral.htm.
In May 2000, Deputy Commissioner Innes met with members of the Electoral Council of Australia, which is the Peak Body for Australian State and Territory Electoral Commissions. The ECA resolved to form a subcommittee to examine the issue of access to the electoral process as it related to State and Territory Electoral Commissions.
The Terms of Reference for the "Subcommittee on Improved Access for Voters with Disabilities" are listed below:
The sub-committee will examine the following issues with a view towards building on the already extensive efforts of all Australian electoral jurisdictions towards improving the consistency and quality of services for voters with disabilities:
1. Achieving uniformity in definitions of access used and in working to improve access to people with disabilities
2. Advertising of accessible facilities and appropriate wording and symbols to be used in advertising and publications
3. Signage used at premises both indicating access and providing general information: content, presentation and symbols used
4. Availability of accessible parking for each premises
5. Availability of a continuous path of access to the premises
6. Accessibility within the premises
7 Availability of pre-ballot and polling day information on where and how to vote in formats and language that will maximise accessibility for all voters
8. Maximising the ability of all voters to cast their ballot independently, and in secret and at their local polling place.
9. Establishing appropriate benchmarks and assessment tools for determining the percentage of premises meeting access definitions, and setting goals for continuous improvement over the next five years
Notes:
1. Premises referred to above include polling places.
2. Implementation of any of the above issues is the responsibility of the individual electoral authority. However, the benefits of a uniform approach and improvement in this area are recognised.