Ahead of the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024, the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), a non-governmental organization (NGO), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create an environment that allows persons with disabilities (PWDs) to vote with ease.
In a statement made in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, Molly Joshua, IFA’s Director of Programmes, called on INEC to ensure polling units are easily accessible for PWDs, emphasizing the need for flat, barrier-free venues. “INEC should ensure polling units are accessible by choosing flat, barrier-free venues,” Joshua stated.
Joshua also stressed that PWDs should be given priority voting as soon as they arrive at the polling units. “INEC should implement priority voting for Persons with Disabilities upon their arrival at polling units,” he urged.
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of making braille ballot guides available and treating them as sensitive materials for timely distribution and use by polling officials. “Classify and deploy the Braille ballot guide as a sensitive material to ensure deployment, timely availability, and usage by Polling Officials,” Joshua added.
Further, the IFA director called for comprehensive data collection to aid future planning and ensure efficiency. “The commission should mandate polling officials to fill out Persons with Disabilities Form EC40H to collect vital data, aiding future planning and cost-efficiency,” Joshua said.
He also urged INEC to coordinate closely with security agencies and ensure that Form EC30E, which provides instructions for PWDs on Election Day, is displayed prominently at polling units.
Joshua went on to suggest that INEC should position ballot boxes in a way that allows PWDs to cast their votes independently and sustainably engage with the PWD community.
“INEC should position ballot boxes to allow Persons with Disabilities to cast votes independently, and sustain engagement with the Persons with Disabilities community, IFA, and relevant organizations to enhance accessibility,” he noted.
Additionally, Joshua emphasized the need for INEC to collaborate with IFA to update voter data for PWDs, recruit qualified PWDs as staff and ad-hoc staff, and provide training for INEC personnel on the use of assistive materials.
“It is evident that persons with disabilities are determined to participate in the electoral and political process of the country if there is an enabling environment,” he concluded.
