A telephone dictation voting service has been established to support those who may face barriers voting independently.
Who is eligible to use this service?
You may be eligible to use the telephone dictation service if you believe it is not possible or practicable for you to vote by casting an ordinary vote without hardship or undue inconvenience due to:
- Being blind
- Having a vision impairment that prevents you from marking your voting document without assistance
- Having another physical disability that prevents you from marking your voting document without assistance
What is dictation voting and how does it work?
Dictation voting is a confidential and secure service that allows eligible voters to cast their vote by telephone. It is strictly limited to eligible disabled voters only.
Here’s how it works:
- The voting service is available on weekdays between 9:00am to 4:30pm, from 20 April to 21 May 2026,
inclusive.
- Eligible voters should contact the dedicated call centre on 0800 666 040 to request access.
- Voters must be ready to vote before calling, to help ensure a smooth and efficient process.
Upon receiving a request, the Electoral Officer will assess eligibility:
- If you are approved for the service you will dictate your vote to the telephone dictation assistant.
- The votes will be read back to you to confirm accuracy.
- Once confirmed, the votes will be cast and cannot be changed.
As this is a new service, demand levels are uncertain. If call volumes are high, callers will have the option to leave a message requesting a call back.
