B: Table 15: Strategies for supporting disability-inclusive electoral processes Strategy Stage in electoral cycle Pre-election Election Post-election Empowering people with Recruit people with disabilities as electoral leaders Include people with disabilities in Draw on insights from people with disabilities and managers roles such as observers, officials, disabilities to make future elections polling staff, counters more inclusive. Accredit people with disabilities as observers Ensure polling stations are Train people with disabilities as election managers accessible. and officials Ensure voter registration and polling locations are accessible or that alternative methods and assistive devices are available. Making government Ensure EMB policies, structures and materials are Ensure election information, Include people with disabilities in institutions more accessible and inclusive codes of conduct (including police identifying and addressing barriers to inclusive and security), observation their influence in EMBs and other Check the policies, structures and materials of other checklists, results, and complaints organisations that plan and deliver organisations involved in delivering the election (for process are accessible and elections. example provincial governments). inclusive. Involving DPOs as Involve DPOs in election planning and budgeting Involve DPOs in election Encourage CSOs to work with DPOs on partners education, outreach and election law reform and acting on Encourage other CSOs to strengthen DPOs’ capacity observation. lessons from the election. to influence electoral processes. Ensuring political Ensure leadership and campaign assistance includes Recruit candidates with disabilities Involve leaders with disabilities in leadership and campaign people with disabilities (directly and indirectly) identifying and addressing lessons for Conduct political debates in assistance is inclusive including people with disabilities as Train media, CSOs and government in inclusive, inclusive formats political candidates and voters. accessible training and communication. Monitor the inclusiveness of campaigning and voter information during the election. Source: International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and National Democratic Institute (NDI), 2014, Equal access: how to include persons with disabilities in elections and political processes, pp. 35–37.
B: Table 15: Strategies for supporting disability-inclusive electoral processes Strategy Stage in electoral cycle Pre-election Election Post-election Empowering people with disabilities Recruit people with disabilities as electoral leaders and managers Accredit people with disabilities as observers Train people with disabilities as election managers and officials Ensure voter registration and polling locations are accessible or that alternative methods and assistive devices are available. Include people with disabilities in roles such as observers, officials, polling staff, counters Ensure polling stations are accessible. Draw on insights from people with disabilities to make future elections more inclusive. Making government institutions more inclusive Ensure EMB policies, structures and materials are accessible and inclusive Check the policies, structures and materials of other organisations involved in delivering the election (for example provincial governments). Ensure election information, codes of conduct (including police and security), observation checklists, results, and complaints process are accessible and inclusive. Include people with disabilities in identifying and addressing barriers to their influence in EMBs and other organisations that plan and deliver elections. Involving DPOs as partners Involve DPOs in election planning and budgeting Encourage other CSOs to strengthen DPOs’ capacity to influence electoral processes. Involve DPOs in election education, outreach and observation. Encourage CSOs to work with DPOs on election law reform and acting on lessons from the election. Ensuring political leadership and campaign assistance is inclusive Ensure leadership and campaign assistance includes people with disabilities (directly and indirectly) Train media, CSOs and government in inclusive, accessible training and communication. Recruit candidates with disabilities Conduct political debates in inclusive formats Monitor the inclusiveness of campaigning and voter information during the election. Involve leaders with disabilities in identifying and addressing lessons for including people with disabilities as political candidates and voters. Source: International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and National Democratic Institute (NDI), 2014, Equal access: how to include persons with disabilities in elections and political processes, pp. 35–37.