Global Initiative to Enfranchise People with Disabilities: Norfolk Islands

Global Initiative to Enfranchise People with Disabilities: Norfolk Islands - www.electionaccess.org

Best Practices: IFES and other groups have implemented innovative practices around the world.

Laws and Regulations: A country-by-country analysis of election laws, constitutions and regulations, and how these affect citizens with disabilities.

Norfolk Islands

General Right to Vote
Norfolk Act (Constitution)
(1979)

Section 31 states, "There shall be a Legislative Assembly of the Territory. Subject to the regulations, the Legislative Assembly shall consist of 9 members. Subject to this Act, the members of the Legislative Assembly shall be elected as provided by enactment."
Section 37, subsection (1) states, “A person is entitled to enrolment if, at the time of applying for enrolment, the person; (a) is at least 18; and (b) is an Australian citizen; and (c) has been ordinarily resident within the Territory for 6 months immediately before the application.”

Electoral Law
Legislative Assembly Act
(1979)

Section 6, subsection (1) repeats the Norfolk Act’s provisions of section 37.

Exclusion Based on Intellectual Disability
Electoral Law
Legislative Assembly Act
(1979)

Section 6, subsection (3A) states, “A person who, by reason of being of unsound mind, is incapable of understanding the nature and significance of enrolment and voting, is not entitled to enrolment.”

Electoral Law
Legislative Assembly Act
(1979)

Voter Assistance
Electoral Law
Legislative Assembly Act
(1979)

Section 20, subsection (6) states, “If an elector is unable to read, or his sight is so impaired that he is unable to vote without assistance, the Presiding Officer may, at the request of the elector, mark the ballot-paper for him in accordance with his wishes and shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure that the particulars of the vote of the elector are not communicated to any other person.”

Off-Site Voting
Electoral Law
Legislative Assembly Act
(1979)

Section 21, subsection (1) states, An elector who - (a) is seriously ill or inform and for that reason will be unable to attend on the polling day at a polling place in order to vote...may apply to the Returning Officer for an absentee vote certificate and an absentee ballot-paper.”