Beidh seirbhís saorghlao úr ar fáil chun cuidiú le vótálaithe lagamhairc sna toghcháin áitiúla a bheas ar siúl an tseachtain seo chugainn. Is féidir an tseirbhis seo a úsáid i gcomhar le teimpléid pháipéar ballóide, a úsáidfear don chéad uair sna toghcháin áitiúla ar an Aoine, 24 Bealtaine (2019).
Is féidir liosta na n-iarrthóirí in ord aibítre a fháil do gach toghcheantar ar an uimhir shaorghlao 1800 400 150. Is féidir fosta le vótálaithe a bhfuil lagú radhairc orthu scairt a chur ar an uimhir seo nuair a théann siad chun a gcuid vótaí a chaitheamh.
Tugtar rogha dóibh ansin an toghlimistéar ina bhfuil siad cláraithe le vótáil ann a roghnú, agus ansin cloistear fógra réamhthaifeadta ina luaitear ainm gach iarrthóra, an páirtí polaitíochta lena mbaineann siad agus a ngairm bheatha.
Ansin, baineann an t-úsáideoir leas as teimpléad ballóide – pláta plaisteach trédhearcach a chuirtear ina luí ar bharr an pháipéir bhallóide – sa dóigh is gur féidir leo a roghanna vótála a léiriú in cibé ord is mian leo.
Is féidir leo siúd a bhfuil lagú radhairc orthu scairt a chur ar an uimhir shaorghlao seo chomh minic agus is mian leo roimh lá na vótála le dul i dtaithí ar na socruithe úra agus le ham a thabhairt dóibh ullmhú agus a machnamh a dhéanamh.
Tá an ceart go fóill acu siúd a bhfuil lagú radhairc orthu a bpáipéir bhallóide a mharcáil le cuidiú ó chompánach nó ón Oifigeach Ceannais ag gach toghchán agus reifreann, faoi mar a leagtar síos sna hAchtanna Toghcháin.
A new freephone service will be available to assist visually impaired voters in next week's local elections. This service can be used in conjunction with ballot paper templates, which will be employed for the first time in local elections on Friday 24 May.
The freephone number 1800 400 150 will list candidates in alphabetical order for each electoral area.
Voters with a vision impairment can call the number when they go to cast their ballots.
They are then given an option to select the electoral area in which they are registered to vote, after which a recorded announcement lists each candidate, their political affiliation and their occupation.
The user then uses a ballot template - a transparent plastic device placed on top of the ballot paper - to indicate their voting preferences in order of choice.
Vision impaired voters can use the Freephone facility as often as they wish in the run-up to polling day to familiarise themselves with the arrangements and to firm up their voting intentions.
Vision impaired voters will also continue to have the option of marking their ballot papers with the assistance of a companion or Presiding Officer, as provided for in the Electoral Acts, at all elections and referendums.
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