Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 25 October 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters

Ensuring Inclusive Local and EU Elections: Discussion

Mr. Art O'Leary:

On that point, recently the Australians had a referendum on the rights of indigenous peoples. They tried hard in that country to make voting as easy as possible for people. Voting is compulsory. They fly helicopters and have big four-by-fours that go to the outback delivering ballot papers. An Australian citizen can turn up in any polling station in any part of the world, including embassies, and say “I am here to vote”. I went to the Australian Embassy to look at voting, and there was a wheelchair accessible booth for people to vote in.