Kelly Vincent radio interview on 1197am RPH 10/12/2014 regarding access to voting for people with disabilities
15/12/2014
Kelly was recently interviewed by Peter Greco on community radio station RPH, regarding the accessibility measures for blind and vision impaired people in her Electoral (Electronically Assisted Voting and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2014. Click the play button to listen to the interview or follow on below to read the transcript.
PETER GRECO: We are going to speak to Kelly Vincent who is the member for Dignity for Disability in the Legislative Council in South Australia. And, Kelly, as we welcome you to the program, it would be remiss of us not to mention the very sad and sudden passing of Stella Young.
KELLY VINCENT: Absolutely, it’s tragic. I’m still in shock, I have to say. It’s a big loss to the disability community, and to social justice advocacy everywhere.
PETER GRECO: Our thoughts are very much with her family.
KELLY VINCENT: Absolutely.
PETER GRECO: Stella was not very old when she passed away but she packed a lot of advocacy and good things into the 32 years that she had been with us.
KELLY VINCENT: Absolutely. Will all have to pick up a lot of work to take over from what Stella was doing for all of us? The show must go on, I’m afraid, and I’m sure that’s what Stella would have wanted. But it is very, very sad.
PETER GRECO: Kelly, last Bigby spoke to a young lady in Victoria who have voted in the Victorian election, and it seems like they have a much better deal than we have serious South Australia in terms of accessible voting.
KELLY VINCENT: Yes, well, that’s why Dignity for Disability has put up bill to the Parliament to try to instate electronic voting for voters who are blind or vision impaired. It’s very difficult for someone who is blind or has a vision impairment at the moment to have a confidential and accurate vote, because is the only means they have available to them is voting with a pen and paper, and they have to tell someone where to mark that ballot paper, there is no guarantee that the person assisting them to do that will mark the vote accurately in accordance with their wishes. So, it’s a big issue, and we have a lot of catching up to do.
PETER GRECO: We spoke to Kay Mousley, earlier in the year, before the state election, and came made the point that it’s all well and good but it was a legislative issue that people couldn’t vote that way. Is this bill of yours hopefully going to rectify that legislative side of things?
KELLY VINCENT: Yes, absolutely. The Bill seeks to make it a legislative requirement that electronic forms of voting – whether that be through telephone, or Internet, while other means; we are still in discussion with the community about what best practice would be in that area. I also think it’s important to leave the definition open in the legislation, so that it can move with the times and allow the Electoral Commission to use whatever the most modern and accessible means of electronic voting is at that time.
PETER GRECO: Technology moves so quickly that in a sense maybe legislation, keep up with the technology. As you said, to leave it open is probably a good thing. Did you have any sense of what sort of support in either house this sort of legislation might have?
KELLY VINCENT: Well, Peter, because the Parliament has prorogued for the year, which means that all the items currently on our agenda will be wiped off so that we can start again in the New Year, we will have to reintroduce this bill, and therefore we will start again with consulting with the community and with talking to Members about what the effect of this bill would be for blind and vision impaired voters. So, so there’s a lot of discussion to be had in the New Year. But I think also a lot of important points to keep in mind with the by-elections happening in Fisher and Davenport at the moment, for example. I think not only good electronic voting be beneficial for those with disabilities; I think it could also result in more accurate voting, the votes could perhaps be counted quicker using electronic means, and I think it would also make it easier to tell whether somebody is trying to vote fraudulently. For example, if somebody showing of more than one all in place, with the perhaps put in place an electronic system which could indicate whether or not that person had already voted at a different polling place. There are lots of benefits; lots of flow on benefits that don’t necessarily just affect people with disabilities, so we’ll keep campaigning for this very strongly.
PETER GRECO: Yes, it’s a great point, isn’t it? As you say, it’s in a sense for people who might have a disability, but if it’s got broader applications then that’s even a better thing.
KELLY VINCENT: Absolutely! I think another point is that perhaps, depending on the system that we use, it could result in more voter engagement, because the easier it is to cast an accurate vote, I think more people will be willing to cast a vote. For example, if there are people wanting to vote below the line, if we had an electronic system which could tell you if you’ve missed a box we’ve put some numbers in the wrong way, then the person could go back and correct that. So, I think it would actually make it easier for everyone to cast a more accurate vote and be more easily engage in the voting process.
PETER GRECO: Does it frustrate you a little bit that different states and even federally, there are different ways? I mean, we are one country, you would think we could have a better, holistic, nationwide approach to this, could we?
KELLY VINCENT: Particularly with an issue like this, where there is no distinct cultural reason…
PETER GRECO: Those Victorians are bit funny, but apart from that…!
KELLY VINCENT: Yeah!
*both laugh*
You know, blind and vision impaired people live all across Australia, and particularly in Federal elections you would think would be very beneficial to have a consistent system. When it comes to Federal elections in particular, everyone in every state is voting so we need equal access to allow everyone to do that, you’re right.
PETER GRECO: well, also, to share the technology, maybe to share the costs a little bit if every state and federally, or are using a similar sort of system rather than everyone sort of going their own way. But that seems a bit too logical!
KELLY VINCENT: *laughs* Maybe just a bit! Steady on!
PETER GRECO: Kelly, in terms of consultation: you’re happy to hear from people or if people are prepared to contact their own local member of Parliament that would be a good thing to be doing?
KELLY VINCENT: If you’d like a copy of the bill, it is available on the South Australian legislation website, and also if you contact my office on 8237 9543 or via email, will be able to give you a copy, and with love to hear everyone’s feedback so that we can make it the strongest bill possible and make sure that it meets the needs of those people that it looks to support.
PETER GRECO: Probably an unfair question, would you hope to have something introduced at least sometime next year? Because of course, it got a little bit of time on our hands but by the same token, I can go by very quickly.
KELLY VINCENT: The bill is ready, we’ve already done quite a bit of consulting on it and introduced to Parliament once, but as I said, unfortunately, because of the prorogation of Parliament, we’ll have to do so again. But hopefully the break in Parliament will give us the opportunity to reflect on the bill and get some more feedback and may be in the New Year introduce an even stronger and more accurate bill. We look forward to doing that as soon as possible.
PETER GRECO: so if people do want a copy of the bill, they can contact your office? What’s that number again?
KELLY VINCENT: 8237 9543. Or the bill is on the South Australia legislation website: legislation.sa.gov.au
