Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1996

Requirement for provision of accessible polling procedures.

3.—(1) The Electoral Act, 1992 is hereby amended by—

(a) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (1) of section 94:

“(1A) The returning officer shall, where practicable, provide polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users.”,

(b) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3) of section 94:

“(3A) The returning officer shall, where practicable, give public notice of all polling stations which are inaccessible to wheelchair users not later than the eighth day before polling day.”,

and

(c) the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph (h) of subsection (5) of section 94:

“(i) such other arrangements as may serve to facilitate the marking and placing in the ballot box of ballot papers by voters who may be wheelchair users,

(j’) such arrangements as the Minister may provide for by regulations as may serve to facilitate voters with visual impairments to mark their ballot papers without assistance.”.

(2) The Local Elections Regulations, 1995 ( S.I. No. 297 of 1995 ), are hereby amended—

(a) by the insertion of the following sub-article after sub-article (1) of Article 57:

“(1A) The returning officer shall, where practicable, provide polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users.”,

and

(b) by the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph (h) of sub-article (5) of Article 57:

“(i) such other arrangements as may serve to facilitate the marking and placing in the ballot box of ballot papers by voters who may be wheelchair users,

(j) such arrangements as may be provided for by regulations under section 94 (5)(j) of the Act of 1992 for the time being in force as may serve to facilitate voters with visual impairments to mark their ballot papers without assistance.”.