Written answers

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Disability Support Services

Photo of Marc MacSharryMarc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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608. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if persons with visual impairments will be facilitated to vote independently by secret ballot in the upcoming referendum; if ballot paper templates for persons with visual impairments will be available in each polling station; if persons will have an opportunity to test them in advance for access purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5534/18]

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Electoral Regulations 2016 provide for ballot paper templates to be provided at polling stations at referendums. These templates are designed to facilitate visually impaired voters to vote in secret. My Department has procured ballot paper templates for use at referendums on behalf of returning officers and they will be available at each polling station at the upcoming referendum.

My Department, in conjunction with the National Council for the Blind in Ireland, NCBI, plans to promote the availability of the templates in advance of the forthcoming referendum. The templates, which were devised in conjunction with the NCBI, will be easy to use and will be available for trial at a number of NCBI centres in advance of the forthcoming referendum. In addition, presiding officers at polling stations will be available to assist and advise anyone opting to use ballot paper templates to ensure that those voters are fully facilitated to vote in secret.

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