Tactile voting device

A tactile voting device is a plastic device that can be fixed onto a ballot paper to enable visually impaired people to mark their ballot paper in secret.

The device consists of a number of flaps. Each flap covers a box when the device is fixed onto a ballot paper and is numbered (the number contrasts well against the white background of the ballot paper and can also be felt by the finger as it is raised).

The flaps on the device cover each of the boxes on the ballot paper in which the vote is marked. The number that corresponds to the box covered by a particular flap is embossed in black on the flap's surface. The number shows up well against the white background of the ballot paper and is also raised so it can be identified by touch.

Once the voter knows which number his/her desired candidate/party corresponds to, he/she casts his/her vote using the device by lifting the relevant flap so that he/she knows where to make his/her mark.

In the United Kingdom, all polling stations are legally required to provide a tactile voting device to any visually impaired voter.[1]

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 4/26/2011. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.