The solution to providing a secret vote for visually-impaired people in the forthcoming local and European elections involves placing a Braille sleeve over the ordinary ballot paper, the High Court has heard.
Patrick Dillon-Malone SC, representing a man who is challenging the State’s failure to provide such facilities, said he recognised that the solution could not be done overnight. Polling station staff would have to be trained in use of the Braille sleeve and the size of the ballot paper might also have to be altered.
Robert Sinnott of the Blind Legal Alliance claims the State is failing to uphold his right under the Constitution and European law in not having a mechanism allowing the visually impaired to cast their votes in secret.
The position now requires asking a presiding officer to complete his ballot paper, effectively depriving him of his right to a secret ballot, he says. Mr Dillon-Malone yesterday asked the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, for an early hearing date because the elections are scheduled for May 23rd.
Early hearing
Frank Callanan SC, for the State, said it would not be possible to put arrangements for the visually impaired in place straight away, but the State was prepared to facilitate an early hearing.
Mr Justice Kearns adjourned the case to April 19th.
Mr Sinnott, James’s Street, Dublin, is taking the case against the Minister for the Environment, Community, and Local Government; Ireland and the Attorney General.