Information for voters who are blind and vision impaired

Image of referendum template

Thankfully tactile templates have been developed for the upcoming elections and referendum this May.
Each template has clear and non-decorative lettering, large print, good colour contrast, raised letters,
Braille and the cut-out sections have a black border to assist people to find where to mark their vote.

The templates will be used on the same ballot paper used by everyone else.

Referendum template

There are two cut out boxes on the template, one for yes and one for no.
The template is placed over the ballot paper to match the boxes to be marked on the ballot paper.

Election template

There are 20 cut out boxes, the template is placed over the ballot paper to match the boxes to be marked on the ballot paper.
The template has a flap over each of the cut outs, so that people can close it over when they have marked the box.

You can check the template is right way up because the template has a hole at the top right-hand
corner which should be matched with the hole on the top right-hand corner of the ballot paper.

You can find a list of candidates on your county council’s website or you can call a free phone number at any time including at home, at the polling station and in the polling booth.

Presiding officers in polling stations have been briefed on the different elements of the template and will give verbal directions before you enter the booth to mark the ballot paper.

NCBI have templates that you can “try out” in each of our offices nationwide. Get in touch with your local NCBI office if you would like a demonstration of the templates.

A Freephone telephone number has been set up for visually impaired individuals in respect of the Local Elections.

County Council listing (A-Z)

  • Carlow – 1800 928 983
  • Cavan – 1800 855 866
  • Clare – 1800 306 854
  • Cork City – 1800 283 034
  • Cork County – 1800 805 819
  • Donegal – 1800 400 150
  • Dublin City – 1800 885 500
  • Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown – 1800 804 535
  • Fingal – 1800 200 042
  • Galway City – 1800 306 894
  • Galway County – 1800 928 894
  • Kerry – 1800 805 818
  • Kildare – 1800 306 960
  • Kilkenny – 1800 500 000
  • Laois – 1800 832 032
  • Leitrim – 1800 702 651
  • Limerick City and County – 1800 855 844
  • Longford – 1800 300 184
  • Louth – 1800 805 817
  • Mayo – 1800 805 815
  • Meath – 1800 808 809
  • Monaghan – 1800 804 158
  • Offaly – 1800 928 984
  • Roscommon – 1800 200 727
  • Sligo – 1800 754 401
  • South Dublin – 1800 240 519
  • Tipperary – 1800 804 159
  • Waterford City and County – 1800 201 501
  • Westmeath – 1800 805 816
  • Wexford – 1800 804 536
  • Wicklow – 1800 868 399

Below are the freephone numbers for the European elections:

Dublin: 1800200246
Midlands North West: 1800805821
South: 1800 300 103

Find out more at www.refcom.ie, your local county council website or the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government website www.housing.gov.ie

Image of referendum template
Image of referendum template
Image of a new tactile template
Image of a new tactile template

Â