New Zealand

Table of Contents:

• Exclusion or Potential Exclusion Based on Disability
• Assistive Tools and Policies

Back to Top

Section 27 states:

(8) If the elector—

• (a) is wholly or partially blind; or
• (b) whether because of physical handicap or otherwise, is unable to read or write; or
• (c) has severe difficulty in reading or writing; or
• (d) is not sufficiently familiar with the English language to vote without assistance,— he or she may vote in accordance with subclause (9) or subclause (10)…

(10) If an elector to whom subclause (8) applies votes otherwise than at a polling place, the witness to the declaration…shall—

• (a) assist the elector to mark the ballot paper and any voting papers; or
• (b) mark the ballot paper and any voting papers as instructed by the elector.

 

Excerpt from the Electoral Regulations (1996, last amended 2014)

 

Back to Top

Section 19 states:

(4) It shall be the duty of every Returning Officer to ensure that, as far as practicable, facilities for special voting are made avail- able at every hospital, maternity home, or institution for the reception or relief of persons requiring medical or surgical or other treatment or suffering from any illness, disease, or dis- ability, or for convalescent, aged, infirm , incurable, destitute, or poor people.

(5) Without limiting the generality of subclause (3), for the purpose of enabling hospital votes to be exercised in accordance with regulation 23, the Returning Officer in whose district any such hospital, maternity home, or institution as aforesaid is situated shall ensure that, as far as practicable, there are pro- vided at the hospital, maternity home, or institution the main and supplementary rolls, ballot papers, and voting papers for the districts ordinarily served by the hospital, maternity home, or institution, and a ballot box for each such district…

 

Section 23 states:

(5) Every elector who exercises a hospital vote shall alone and secretly— …

• (c) mark any voting paper in accordance with the instructions on that voting paper.

(6) Where a hospital vote is exercised by a voter who—

• (a) is wholly or partially blind; or
• (b) whether because of physical handicap or otherwise, is unable to read or write; or
• (c) has severe difficulty in reading or writing; or
• (d) is not sufficiently familiar with the English language to vote without assistance,— section 170 of the [Electoral Act ] shall apply, so far as it is applicable and with the necessary modifications.

(7)…Every person present when a hospital vote is exercised by a voter—

• (a) shall refrain from looking at or becoming acquainted with the vote given by the voter; and
• (b) shall not in any way attempt to influence or interfere with the voter in the exercise of his or her vote; and
• (c) shall not allow any person—
  • (i) see or become acquainted with the voter's vote; or
  • (ii) to assist the voter to vote; or
  • (iii) to interfere in any way with the voter in relation to his or her vote.

(8) When a hospital vote under this regulation has been exercised by a voter, the voter—

• (a) shall fold his or her ballot paper so that the contents cannot be seen; and
• (b) shall fold any voting paper or voting papers so that the contents cannot be seen; and
• (c) shall then deposit the ballot paper so folded and the voting paper or voting papers (if any) so folded in the ballot box for the appropriate district...

 

Section 23A states:

(1) This regulation applies to any person in New Zealand who is qualified to vote at any election in any district as a special voter because he or she has satisfied an Issuing Officer that it will not be practicable for him or her to vote at a polling place in a district without incurring hardship or serious inconvenience on the ground that he or she—

• (a) is blind; or
• (b) is partially blind and is unable to mark the ballot paper without assistance; or
• (c) has another physical disability and is unable to mark the ballot paper without assistance.

(2) A person to whom this regulation applies may request to vote by dictation if for the particular election a system allowing special votes by dictation is made available by the Electoral Commission…

 

Section 27 states:

(8) If the elector—

• (a) is wholly or partially blind; or
• (b) whether because of physical handicap or otherwise, is unable to read or write; or
• (c) has severe difficulty in reading or writing; or
• (d) is not sufficiently familiar with the English language to vote without assistance,— he or she may vote in accordance with subclause (9) or subclause (10).

(9) If an elector to whom subclause (8) applies votes at a polling place, the provisions of section 170 of the Act shall apply with the necessary modifications.

(10) If an elector to whom subclause (8) applies votes otherwise than at a polling place, the witness to the declaration…shall—

• (a) assist the elector to mark the ballot paper and any voting papers; or
• (b) mark the ballot paper and any voting papers as instructed by the elector.

 

Section 66 states:

(2) Where it appears to a Returning Officer that an elector is unfamiliar with the English language, the Returning Officer shall, before calling on an interpreter, if present, for assistance, draw to the elector's attention a poster containing instructions, both in English and in languages other than English, on how to vote...

(3)If—

• (a) no such poster is available; or
• (b) the elector, having had the poster drawn to the elector's attention, still requires assistance because of the elector's lack of familiarity with the English language,— the Returning Officer shall call on an interpreter, if present, to assist.

 

Excerpts from the Electoral Regulations (1996, last amended 2014)