Tactile Ballot Guides for Blind Voters

The tactile ballot guide has cut-out holes and lines along one side to indicate the sequence of candidates. The ballot paper is placed under the guide and an audio recording describes the parties and candidates that correspond to the holes. The guide can be used multiple times and does not require knowledge of the Braille font.

Problems Targeted

Despite several projects implemented by the CEC, blind voters living in Georgia were not able to vote independently without the assistance of another person.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

In 2016, the Central Election Commission created a standard ballot paper for all elections in the country, thus providing the basis for developing a solution to allow blind voters to vote independently. To develop the tactile ballot guide, the CEC looked at international best practices and worked with a number of NGOs, including the Union of the Blind in Georgia. The tactile ballot guide made of durable paper has cut-out holes and lines along one side to indicate the sequence of candidates. The ballot paper is placed under the guide and an audio recording describes the parties and candidates that correspond to the holes. The guide can be used multiple times and does not require knowledge of the Braille font. To promote the guide and explain how it works, the CEC produced videos and partnered with the Union of the Blind to hold information sessions and mock elections; and following the 2016 election the guide was updated and further improved. To make the information about the tactile ballot guide available online to blind voters, the CEC official website was adapted in line with the principle of universal design. For the 2018 presidential election, guides were available in all 3,647 election precincts and were used by 527 voters.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The policy is fully financed from Georgia’s national state budget. The overall cost of the project was $6,500, with a cost per tactile ballot guide of $1.45. The guide is replicable in other countries, as it is inexpensive to produce and can be used in different types of elections. The CEC has already presented its work in international meeting, and it is actively sharing information with election administrations in other countries. In the 2018 municipal election, Georgia piloted electronic vote counting for the first time in three electoral precincts of one electoral district. As such, different ballot papers were printed and CEC prepared an adapted tactile ballot guide for these papers. This will need to be considered if these electronic pilots are expanded.

Pictures

During a mock election, a blind voter uses the ballot guide, counting the cutouts to make her selections.

During a mock election, a blind voter uses the ballot guide, counting the cutouts to make her selections.

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THE STORY OF IRMA BARABADZE, USER OF THE TACTILE BALLOT GUIDE OF THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION

“With the tactile ballot, I can now vote really secretly without anybody’s assistance.”

“With the tactile ballot, I can now vote really secretly without anybody’s assistance.”