The Tasmanian Liberal Government has today introduced the Electoral Amendment (Alternative Voting Procedures) Bill 2025.
This will allow the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) to approve appropriate alternative voting procedures to facilitate voting for electors who are experiencing barriers to accessing traditional voting services such as voting in person or by post.
Approved procedures may include but are not limited to electronic voting services such as telephone voting.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, said this was an important milestone in ensuring all Tasmanians can access their democratic right.
"These are important reforms that will benefit Tasmanians with a vision impairment, blindness or other print disability, such as physical dexterity difficulties, learning disability, brain injury, and those with literacy issue," the Attorney-General said.
"The TEC has indicated it will look to make use of this legislation for elections as soon as practical once it has commenced.
"These reforms address concerns raised by disability advocacy groups about the challenges experienced by voters with vision impairment or 'print disability' in casting an independent and secret vote.
"Importantly the Bill provides a mechanism for ongoing input from advocates and representatives from the disability community and others in the development of alternative voting procedures.
"I acknowledge the contributions of disability advocacy organisations and people within the disability community that have been instrumental in the development of the Bill.
"We want Tasmania to be the best possible place it can be under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, today is another important step to achieving this."
