Prioritise PWD access to voting mandatory-CCD tells INEC

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) have called on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC to ensure that access to voting for Persons with Disabilities, PWDs is a priority and not just advisory

The call was given in a Report in the 2020, Ondo State Governorship Election. An Assessment of INEC Preparations for Persons with Disabilities, published by the CCD.

In Its recommendations, the CCD said INEC should make prioritisation of PWD access to voting mandatory, not advisory, citing Section 56(2) of the INEC Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2010  which states that “The Commission MAY (emphasis ours) take reasonable steps to ensure that voters with disabilities are assisted at the polling stations by the provision of suitable means of communication, such as Braille, Large embossed print or electronic devices or sign language interpretation, or off site voting in appropriate cases”. The word “shall” should replace “may”

It also recommended that the electoral body ensure that in Compliance with health protocols, including the re-design of the polling unit layout and adequate measure is taken to ensure that polling stations are accessible for physically impaired voters.

Make election materials available and accessible as well as the facilities for all PWDs. This includes Form EC40H, polling units, and assistive resources such as sign language interpreters, signage posters, tactile ballot jackets, magnifying lenses, and disability friendly polling stations.

The CCD further called on the electoral umpire to train staff and other ad-hoc officials adequately to understand and respond to PWD needs and as well engage the services of sign language interpreter volunteers to support their engagement with hearing impaired (deaf) voters on election- day.

Stating their Findings and expectations of INEC, the Report stated that majority of their Responders expected INEC to conduct elections by mandating the use of face mask at polling stations, enforcing social distancing, Mandating voting priority for all PWDs, Enforcing the Covid-19 health and safety protocol, Providing sign language interpreters and signage posters at polling units, providing braille ballot jacket for the blind and introducing a secured mobile voting system and make

The Report stated that the effective and full participation of PWDs eligible voters among over 450,000 Ondo State persons with disabilities in the October 2020 Governorship election will be determined by the level of access and provisions made by INEC to ensure that they come out and vote on equal basis with others.

Laudably enough, INEC has developed a framework on access and participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process, which it has committed to removal of barriers that hinders PWDs’ access to electoral process.

The Report however stated that the discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 also known as the National Disability Act, which was signed by President Mohmmadu Buhari on the 17th of January, 2019 which has equally been adopted by the Ondo State Government. Sections 1, 4, 24 and 27 of the Act made provisions that support PWDs participation in the electoral process.

These provisions are in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Nigeria has signed and ratified.