Is your election accessible?
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Is your election accessible? 2021 Municipal Elections Access Advisory Team Members: • Nancy Reid, Coalition of Persons with Disabilities (COD-NL) • Pamela Dawe , Office of the Seniors’ Advocate • Jim Murphy & Frank Gough, Association for New Canadians (ANC) • Rob McLennan, Stella’s Circle • Scott Matthews, PhD, Memorial University Kathleen Parewick, MUP, PhD Community Collaboration & Development 30 June 2021
Framework • Exercise the Vote by Mail option
& • Coordinated countdown
• Resources and supports
Sector • Group purchasing
Leadership • Advocacy
https://bit.ly/3oOQmkQ
• Barebones
approach
Our • Legally-reviewed
VBM
• Templates (.doc)
Guidance
• Guide & Tips
• Procurement help
• Materials sourcing
VBM
• Printing support
Ballot Kit options
Purchasing
• Templates (.doc)
support
Final Step (ASAP - July 5th)
VBM Motion # 3:
Motions of Be it resolved that the Town of [insert]
Council adopt the Town of [insert] Vote By Mail
Regulations and forward them to the
Minister of Municipal and Provincial
Affairs for review and approval in writing
pursuant to Sections 54 and 97 of the
Municipal Elections Act."
VBM Regulation Package for MAPA Submission
Appendices
Part 2 3A B & C (only)
Part 1 Appendix A
+ +
Ballot(s) &
Regulations Procedures Voter Declaration Form
You are here
* 28
Election
VBM (Yes/No) MAPA
Period Sept
Our most
Accessibility Supports accessible
Election
EVER!
Voters List
September
August
June
May
April
July
Huge thank-yous to… Our Community Advisors
We know how this story ended…
Access • Signage indicating accessible path of
travel at poll station?
And • Staff aware of service animal use rights?
Your • Ways to support low-sighted voters?
• Plans for long-term care facility residents?
Election
• Translated voting materials?Dimensions
Access. • Physical
Inclusion. • Awareness/Staff Education
• Barrier-specific approaches
Choice. • Place-based/Community outreach
• Literacy/Linguistic barriersFlexibility
Vote By Mail • From the time VBM Voter Kits are available through
to the end of Election Day gives voters roughly a two
& week voting period to complete and return their
completed ballot kits, with or without assistance.
Access This extra time makes it much easier to plan and
•support voters in need of accommodations
• In-person voting opportunities on Election Day at poll
stations can also offer extra supports for persons who
have trouble completing the Kit.
We have Access Advisors lined up to help you
troubleshoot any access issues you may encounter.Considerations
Ø Doorways and open spaces
Physical Ø
Ø
Level entry and ramps
Low tension and lever handles
Access Ø
Ø
Paths of travel
Colour contrast
Ø Counter height
Ø Reachable operators
…..and much more!Developing an eye for accessibility
• Building for
Everyone
• Physical
Universal accessibility
Design principles
NL
• Excellent resources
and guides
https://universaldesignnl.ca
(link on the MNL Municipal Elections page)• Ramps
• Doors
• Elevators
• Reception
& Service
Areas
https://www.rickhansen.com/become-accessible/accessibility-resources (link on the MNL Municipal Elections page)• Signage?
• Parking?
Access • Ramps?
Self-Audit
• Obstacle-free?
• 17 items…
• Anywhere your
voters may be
visitingDon’t forget dropboxes! • Vote by Mail provides more time and flexibility… • More ways to return a ballot… • More places to look at with an eye for accessibility
Considerations
Awareness
• Accessibility also includes awareness and
& understanding
Staff Ø Language
Education Ø Knowledge of appropriate and necessary
accommodations
Ø Service Animals• Respectful
language
• Person first
Words
with • “Us” or “Them”
Dignity • Include in poll
materials and staff
training
https://www.gov.nl.ca/cssd/files/disabilities-
pdf-words-with-dignity.pdf
(Link on the MNL Municipal Elections page)Considerations
These include:
Barrier-specific • Video Relay Service (VRS) calls
Approaches • ElectionsNL videos (sensory disability in the polling
station)
• BUT not all barriers are addressed by mail-in ballots
either:
Ø No template for a voter who is blind
Ø No support from staff if needed• FREE
• “ Yes, we are
willing to receive
VRS calls…”
• Live translator will
connect after a
short wait to fully
connect with the
deaf caller
https://srvcanadavrs.ca/en (Link on the MNL Municipal Elections page)https://www.clearingourpath.ca/
Check out these videos produced by COD-NL for Elections NL (2017) https://www.elections.gov.nl.ca/elections/voters/access.html
Place-Based Considerations
Access • MEA Sections 48 & 49?
& Ø Incapacitated voter
Ø Mobile and special polls
Community • What if you aren't allowed in a facility?
Outreach • Older residents without local family to help?إﺗﻣﺎم ﻋﻣﻠﯾﺔ اﻻﻗﺗراع ﺑﺘﻌﺌﺔ ﻗﻢ
اﺳﺗﻣﺎرة اﻟﺗﺻرﯾﺢ
اﻟﺘﺼﺮﻳﺢ اﺳﺘﻤﺎرة
ﻗﻢ اﻻﻧﺘﺨﺎﺑﯿﺔ
1
أﻧﺎ اﻟﻣوﻗﻊ أدﻧﺎه أﺻرح ﺑﺄﻧﻧﻲ
ﻣواطن ﻛﻧدي وﻋﻣري ﯾزﯾد ﻋن 18
ﺑﺘﻌﺒﺌﺔ ﻋﺎﻣﺎً ،وﯾﺣق ﻟﻲ اﻟﺗﺻوﯾت ﻓﻲ
2
ھذه اﻻﻧﺗﺧﺎﺑﺎت ،وأﻧﻧﻲ ﻟم أﻗم
أوراق ﺑﺎﻟﺗﺻوﯾت ﻓﻲ أي ﻣرﻛز
اﻗﺗراع آﺧر ﺧﻼل ھذه
اﻻﻗﺘﺮاع اﻻﻧﺗﺧﺎﺑﺎت.
ﺗوﻗﯾﻊ______:
اﻻﺳم______ :
أدﺧﻠﮫﺎ
ﺑﺎﻟﻈﺮف
B
3
ﻣﻐﻠف اﻹﻋﺎدة
أدﺧﻞ اﻟﻮرﻗﺔ A ﻣﻐﻠف اﻟﺗﺻوﯾت اﻟﺳري Return Envelope
Ballot Secrecy Envelope
ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻐﻠﻒ اﻧظرإﻟﻰ ﺗﻌﻠﯾﻣﺎت اﻟﺗﺻوﯾت ﻟﻣﻌﯨرﻓﺔ اﻷﻣﺎﻛن اﻟﻣﺗﺎﺣﺔ ﻟﻺﻋﺎدة
)See Voting Directions for return location(s
وأدﺧﻠﮫﺎ
واﻗﻔﻞ
واﻗﻔﻞ
اﻟﻤﻐﻠﻒ
أﻏﻠق ﻣﻐﻠﻔﺎت اﻟﺗﺻوﯾت اﻟﻣﻛﺗﻣﻠﺔ ﻓﻘط
Enclose completed ballot(s) only
اﻟﻤﻐﻠﻒRead this first…
Voting Directions Remember
It is against the law to use more than the ballot(s) provided or
Follow these steps to keep your vote secret to vote under another’s name. If found guilty, offenders may
and ensure your ballot is not spoiled. A be subject to a fine and/or imprisonment as per Sections 99
spoiled ballot cannot be counted. You must: and 100 of the Municipal Elections Act.
1. Complete your ballot(s) and insert into
the white Ballot Secrecy Envelope (A). Questions
- Seal Envelope A - If you require assistance, please contact us.
Phone:
2. Sign and print your name on the Email:
yellow Declaration Form.
3. Insert your completed Declaration Form
Where and When
and sealed Ballot Secrecy Envelope into You may return your completed ballot kit to the Town Offices
the yellow Return Envelope (B). during regular office hours [and to the Town Dropbox] until [x]
p.m. on Monday, September 27th.
- Seal Envelope B - [insert Town Office street address]
Your ballot kit is now complete. Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day,
You may return it to the [Town Offices over Tuesday September 28th, you may return your completed ballot
during regular office hours and/or dropbox] kit to the polling station located at:
or to your designated poll location on [insert poll location street address]
Election Day.Considerations
Literacy
• Are there other cultural communities in your town?
& Linguistic
• Are there newcomers who aren't familiar with
Access Canadian election processes?
• What kinds of resources/supports would help?
• Are there organizations who can help?https://municipalnl.ca/municipal-elections/
https://municipalnl.ca/municipal-elections/
1 + 2 + 3 Self-Audit Other Access Advisor Guide & Checklist Resources & Links consultations
How come…? What’s that
What if…?
supposed to
mean?
Questions?
info@municipalnl.ca
1-800-440-6536 (toll-free)
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