Accessibility committee reviews plan for the Oct. 26 municipal election

The town’s accessibility advisory committee has gone over the plan for the Oct. 26 municipal election.

The Municipal Elections Accessibility Plan was a topic that came up at the committee’s July meeting with clerk Kevin Fox outlining several items in the plan. He noted the election will be in-person paper ballots with advance polling dates of Oct. 7 and Oct. 17.

Fox noted there will be assistive technologies in place for those who need them, including various interfaces that will allow people with disabilities to cast their ballot. Components would include a visual display with touchscreen interface, an accessible voting rocker paddle controller, a set of headphones, an external printer for printing the ballot once the voter has made their choices and alternative input interface such as the “sip and puff” input interface or the rocker paddle button input interface to accommodate individual needs.

The way the machine marks the ballot maintains the voter’s anonymity, something Fox said is the “pillars” of elections. 

The plan also allows for an oral oath to vote with assistance, with it stating that a voter who requires assistance to vote may ask the election official for assistance. The election official would then require the voter making the request to take an oral oath to vote with assistance and then assist and/or vote as directed by the voter. 

A voter may also request that a friend accompany them to vote. A person shall only be allowed to act as a friend for one voter.

Proxy voting would also be allowed, should the voter need it, with Fox citing a circumstance like a voter having to go to the hospital as one reason they couldn’t vote themselves.

There will also be a “mobile election team” established where people who can’t get out and need assistance could request that the team come to their home and allow them to vote. Fox said those who are precluded from leaving their homes would still have the anonymity of their vote protected. About “two dozen” people used that service four years ago, he said, but it is only available on election day itself (Oct. 26).

Amherstburg Community Services (ACS) has volunteered the use of the CareLink Health Transit service for electors in need who wish to be picked up and dropped off during the municipal election.

Four locations have been chosen to host polls, as they met the criteria of having barrier-free paths of travel from the parking lot and sidewalk, barrier-free parking, door operators, accessible doors or alternative arrangements and adequate lighting. Polls will be at the Libro Centre, Anderdon Public School, the McGregor Columbian Club and North Star High School.

Committee member Chris Drew wanted it on record that polls will be set up in long-term care facilities, with Fox stating they have to provide that in locations with 20-or-more beds. Voting registration days will also be there in advance of the election.

Voter registration days are held in locations around Amherstburg, Fox added, noting a recent event at No Frills. 

“We want as high of a turnout as we possibly can,” said Fox. “Registering to vote and getting out to vote are very important.”

Accessibility committee reviews plan for the Oct. 26 municipal election

By Ron Giofu