Nigerian group calls for accessible elections there

From AllAfrica.com Sept. 25:

The National Civil Society (NCS) Sept. 24 in Abuja, Nigeria, called on INEC to ensure that people with disability participate fully in the political process.

The group made the call at the end of the National Civil Society validation summit on Electoral Reforms.

"The political system has consistently ignored the full participation and inclusion of the more than 10 per cent of the country's population who have disabilities," the NCS said.

They said the registration and voting processes were not sensitive to the needs of such people, adding that there were no sign language interpreters at the registration and polling booths.

"Electoral materials are not in braille and are not accessible to the blind," NCS said, adding that the Electoral Act should incorporate the use of Electronic Audio Voting (EAV) for the blind.

NCS further said that amputees and leprosy survivors have been disenfranchised, saying they have not been able to vote due to the absence of some fingers.

NCS, therefore, called on INEC to provide alternative methods of voting for amputees and leprosy survivors in its guidelines.

They also suggested that a sign language interpreter should be employed in INEC offices, both at the headquarters and in state offices as well as at the polling booths to assist the deaf.

They called on the government to amend section 42 and 43 of the 1999 Constitution to include disability as a prohibited ground of discrimination.

A sub-section should be added to section 57 of the 2006 Electoral Act to provide for separate queues or priority voting for persons with disabilities.

"All electoral materials should be designed to be made accessible and usable to all persons with disabilities in appropriate formats," NCS said.

They added that polling booths should be made accessible to persons with disabilities and that some political offices should be reserved for them at all levels of government.

They also suggested that registration papers should include information on disability and that INEC should train personnel to attend to people with disabilities.