Deaf voter in Burnaby, B.C., highlights inaccessibility for voting in person

A deaf voter who recently moved to Burnaby, B.C., says Elections Canada should do more to accommodate those who need interpreters to cast their vote in person.

Yat Li says that he was heartened to see Elections Canada placing accessibility information prominently on its website — but says people who need an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter to help them vote face a six-day wait for their services.

Li says he does not personally require an interpreter to vote, but wants to highlight how Elections Canada should do more to improve accessibility for those who are hard of hearing and need to vote in person — adding that he looked into the prospect of requesting an interpreter in a bid to highlight systemic barriers. 

"I think six days is a little bit too much," Li, who has been deaf since birth, told CBC News. He says the form to request an interpreter also has a lot of hoops to jump through.

"I think there could be an opportunity to streamline the digital access process for folks who are deaf and hard of hearing, and for anyone with any other disability as well too," he said.

"Given how, you know, we need to ensure there's a barrier-free society for Canadians."

He says polling stations could potentially cut down on wait times by having interpreters video call voters to assist them, known as video remote interpreting, instead of accompanying them in person. 

Vinu Abraham Chetipurackal, a Deaf accessibility consultant based in Vancouver, says deaf-blind voters have told him that polling workers may not be trained to communicate effectively with those who can't see and hear.

"Voting by mail and online voting don't account for deaf-blind accessibility — for example, lack of screen reader compatibility or unclear ballot formatting," he told CBC News in an email.

Screen readers are software programs that turn text into audio for blind or partly blind people. 

Elections Canada asks for feedback

James Hale, an Elections Canada spokesperson, says the non-partisan elections body has been working on accessibility for years.

A 2024 update from Elections Canada lists its efforts to improve accessibility, including consultation with various disability advocacy groups for ASL and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ).

"Given the shortage of ASL/LSQ interpreters across the country, it would be extremely difficult to staff enough interpreter positions to make such a service available at polling locations and local [Elections Canada] offices," the organization's 2024 progress report states.

"The participants also noted that interpretation services should be saved for those who require emergency services."

Hale says voters who aren't already accommodated can request special disability provisions by dialling 1-800-361-8935. 

"If electors have an experience that they want to share with us, you know, either positive or negative, we want to hear from them," he added, pointing to an online feedback form. 

Advance voting runs from April 18-21, and mail-in ballots must be requested by April 22. Election Day is April 28.