Participation of people with intellectual disabilities in

European elections.

Katrina Ward,

Inclusion Europe.

Inclusion EuropeInclusion Europe is a non-profit organisation.

We campaign for the rights and interests

of people with intellectual disabilities

and their families throughout Europe.

We have 66 member organisationsin 33 European countries.

UNCRPD.Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities guarantees the full participation of people with disabilities in electionsand their right to vote.

It ensures that “voting procedures, facilitiesand materials are appropriate, accessible and easyto understand and use”

It also ensures the right to assistance when voting.

IntroductionIn this presentation I will speak about:

1. Our project on elections.

2. Some difficulties which people with intellectual disabilities can have when voting

3. Examples of good practices in Europe, that make it easier for people with intellectual disabilities to vote.

4. Some recommendations abouthow to make elections more accessible for people with intellectual disabilities.

The ADAP projectAim: To improve the accessibility of elections for people with intellectual disabilities.

Partners: Inclusion Europe is working with three self-advocates and their support persons from:• Nous Aussi, France• ENABLE Scotland• SPMP, Czech Republic.

Funding: The project is funded by the European Commission

Project length: December 2009 – May 2011

Project outputs1. Best practices brochure.

2. Recommendations to politicians andelectoral commissions or government departments who organise the elections in the different countries of the European Union.

3. Meetings between self-advocates and politicianson accessibility.

4. Guide for national associations about how to organise a campaign for accessible elections in easy-to-read language.

5. Final Conference in Brussels 30-31 May

Barriers to voting

We asked our member organisations:

“What is the most important barrier which stops people with intellectual disabilities

from voting in your country?”

“THE INACCESSIBILITY of the election campaign and polling booths”

(Pentru Voi, Romania)

Barriers to voting

“Most political parties don’t even try to communicate with people with intellectual disabilities”

(Senada Halilčević , self-advocate and member of the Association for Self-advocacy, Croatia)

Barriers to voting

“Prejudice that they are not capable of making decisions”

(Pancyprian Parents Association for People with Mental Handicap, Cyprus)

Barriers to voting

“The three important barriers which stop people with intellectual disabilities from participating in elections in Greece are that the most of them:

- are under guardianship

- are living in institutions

- have no facilities to information and the electoral process”

(Posgamea, Greece)

Barriers to voting

“The ballot forms are not accessible in easy-to-read formats and the presence of a personal assistant is not available.”

“The polling station officials are not trained to communicate with people with intellectual disabilities.”

(ÉFOÉSZ, Hungary)

Barriers to voting

“The lack of information in an appropriate form that would allow them to make an informed decision about who to vote for.”

(Mencap, UK)

Barriers to voting

Figures on participation

Figures showing the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in elections

were available in only 2 out of 25 countries

Figures on participation

UK: In the 2010 May general election, only 31% of people with intellectual disabilities voted, compared to 65.1% of the general population.

Source: Mencap poll of over 1.100 people with intellectual disabilities

Figures on participationSweden: In 1998, 20% of people with intellectual disabilities voted, compared to 81.4% of the general population.

In 1994, 31% of people with intellectual disabilities voted in the national election, compared with 86% of the general population.

Source: Anette Kjellberg, ‘Participation, Ideology and Everyday Life. How to understand the experiences of persons with learning disabilities’. 2002, University of Linköping, Sweden

Some examples of good practices in Europe

1. Information

We found that in 15 out of 25 European countries,

there is information in easy-to-read

about voting and the elections.

1. InformationExamples: Easy-to-read voting guides

European election guide• Inclusion Europe wrote a guide an

easy-to-read guide for the 2009 European elections.

• This was translated into 13 European languages.

National election guides• Easy-to-read voting guides exist in

Germany, Scotland, England, Ireland, Finland, Sweden and Belgium.

• They explain for example:the importance of voting, different types of elections, how to vote, how to find out the election results.

1. InformationExample:

Political party manifestos in easy-to-read

In the UK, for the general election in May 2010,

the three main political parties

did their manifestos in easy-to-read.

1. InformationExample: Accessible websites about voting

In the UK, a group of self-advocates made a website about votingin easy-to-understand language.

It explains in easy-to-read languageand short videosthe different aspects of voting.

www.promotethevote.co.uk

2. Training

We found that there was training for self-advocates about how to vote in 8 out of 25 European countries.

2. TrainingExample: Peer training manual on voting

Several Scottish disability organisationsdeveloped together a peer training manualso that people with intellectual disabilitiescan teach other people with intellectual disabilities about voting.

It was made with the support of the Scottish electoral commission.

2. Training

Example: Voting workshops and debates

•Ireland: Voting workshops for self-advocates are organised by Inclusion Ireland.

•Finland: Voting debates are organised by our Finnish member FDUV

3. Campaigns and lobbying

We found that campaigns and lobbying activities for more accessible elections are taking place in several European countries.

3. Campaigns and lobbying

Example: UK – ‘Get my vote!’ campaign

•Organised by Mencap UK before the general election in May 2010.•Called for the main parties to producetheir information in easy-to-read.•Called for more accessible election materialsfor people with intellectual disabilities.

3. Campaigns and lobbyingExample:

Romania - Lobbying for assisted voting

Help the Life Association was part of a working group that worked for 6 months to change the electoral codebefore the 2009 national election and made important changes. One of these changes was theintroduction of assisted voting for people with disabilities.

4. Accessibility guides In France and Scotlandthere are guides for politiciansabout how to make their events and campaignsmore accessible for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. They highlightwhat language they should useand how to make their campaign materialsand meeting venues accessible.

Some recommendationsInformation and training:1. Provision of information in easy to understand language

about all aspects of the electoral process at national and local level.

2. Effective distribution of these materials.3. Training for people with intellectual disabilities

on how to vote.4. Training for poll workers on how to assist people with

intellectual disabilities.5. Regular consultation with NGOs and

people with intellectual disabilities on the provision of accessible information and training.

6. Greater awareness-raising about the rightsof people with intellectual disabilities to vote.

Some recommendationsLegislation:

1. Revise laws on legal capacity and the right to votein accordance with Article 12 of the UN Conventionon the rights of persons with disabilities.

2. Ensure the provision of accessible informationin accordance with Article 21 of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

3. Ensure that people with intellectual disabilitiescan be assisted by a person they trustwhen voting.

4. Consult regularly with NGOs regarding changes to laws on legal capacity or accessibility measures.

Thank you!

For more information about the project,

please visit the project website:

www.voting-for-all.eu

For more information about the ADAP project

and the final conference, please contact:

Katrina Ward,project officer: k.ward@inclusion-europe.org