It's a right that many of us take for granted every time we go to the polls, but which thousands of Queenslanders miss out on.
About 58,000 blind people eligible to vote in next month's state election will again forfeit their right to a secret vote at the polling booths.
In Queensland, blind people or those with low vision must ask a friend or polling official for help to fill out their voting form.
Vision Australia wants the state to join NSW in allowing blind people or those with low vision to cast their vote by telephone or on the internet.
'Other people in the community get to cast their vote completely independently and no one knows how they vote,' Vision Australia manager Karen King says.
'But for people who are blind or have low vision they don't have that level of privacy or independence.'
Queensland is trialling braille ballot papers this election, but Ms King says many blind or visually impaired people don't read braille.
She says internet and phone voting will ensure all blind people will be able to cast their vote in private.
'Just like we do internet banking or phone banking, you can complete the process completely independently,' she said.
Vision Australia wants Queensland MPs to pledge to take action on this and on a range of issues affecting blind people.
Other requests include making taxis cheaper for blind people,
increasing employment opportunities, and helping overcome
isolation.
'We're really keen that all candidates will sign the pledge,' Ms King said.
'For those that do get into parliament we hope that that will carry forward to a commitment to make these changes.'
