Disabled people get their say in local body elections

Disabled people get their say in local body elections

There's now less than a week to go until voting closes in the local body elections.

But for some, like the blind, taking part is a struggle so volunteers are pitching in to make sure they have a say.

Twenty volunteers have been trained in Auckland to record and cast votes for those who cannot.

All the choices are theirs - it's confidential and free and gives him the freedom they may have lacked in the past.

"It was fantastic. It was really empowering," says blind voter Chris Orr.

"I know it sounds simple, but as someone who's been able to vote since 1975 in local body elections, that's the first time I've been able to vote as independently as I can."

The Blind Foundation has recorded information on every candidate from local boards to the mayor and handed it out on 800 CDs.

That's been a big hand to Clive Lansick, as he and his wife are both blind.

And he says the programme can help others too.

"Some people with physical disabilities find it difficult to fill in the forms. There are people with learning difficulties also who might find that process difficult."

Auckland Council says one in four eligible voters have some kind of disability, and assisted voting is available for all those in need.

The Blind Foundation says that's a great start - but online voting would be greater still.

"What the Blind Foundation would love to see is an accessible online voting system so that people can do that at their own leisure, in their own time without support from another person," says Blind Foundation executive director Deborah Ward.

"That's our holy grail."

Anyone who wants to have their vote counted should have their forms in the mail by Wednesday this week.

After that the only way to make sure it arrives is to deliver it yourself to a ballot box before noon on Saturday, when voting closes.

Newshub.