they have not been able to exercise the right to vote by making a complaint to the Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen). However, in Sweden, inadequate accessibility is not included in the Discrimination Act (Diskrimineringslagen). A memorandum proposed the introduction of a new provision on prohibiting in the form of inadequate accessibility for people with disabilities which would include accessibility of information as well . The proposal is still being processed in the Government Offices with no timeframe of adoption. In the latest European Parliament elections 2009, four municipalities were reported to the Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen) on the grounds that they had used voting premises with poor accessibility for people using wheelchairs (see also under 23 and 24). PROCESS INDICATORS Process indicators Source and supporting information The Central Election Authority produced guidelines to voting clerks and other election officials during the General Elections in 2010. The information does not focus on on the grounds of disability, accessibility and reasonable accommodation. Rather the guidelines focus on the procedures of counting and receiving votes at the polling stations. The guideline on how to provide assistance to those with disabilities is Do national, regional, local and municipal that: “A voter who cannot personally vote due to a disability, can receive assistance election authorities have from a voting clerk. It is then allowed for two people to be present in the voting booth.” and accessibility action plans and guidelines in place? Furthermore, the guidelines also point out that in case a voter with disability cannot enter the premises of the polling station, the voting clerk can receive their vote outside, if this can be done in a secure manner. There is also a film available at the website of the Central Election Authority in five languages (Swedish, English, Turkish, Arabic and Farsi) about how to vote at a polling station, but there are no details on providing assistance to people with disabilities.
they have not been able to exercise the right to vote by making a complaint to the Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen). However, in Sweden, inadequate accessibility is not included in the Discrimination Act (Diskrimineringslagen). A memorandum proposed the introduction of a new provision on prohibiting in the form of inadequate accessibility for people with disabilities which would include accessibility of information as well . The proposal is still being processed in the Government Offices with no timeframe of adoption. In the latest European Parliament elections 2009, four municipalities were reported to the Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen) on the grounds that they had used voting premises with poor accessibility for people using wheelchairs (see also under 23 and 24). PROCESS INDICATORS Process indicators Source and supporting information Do national, regional, local and municipal election authorities have and accessibility action plans and guidelines in place? The Central Election Authority produced guidelines to voting clerks and other election officials during the General Elections in 2010. The information does not focus on on the grounds of disability, accessibility and reasonable accommodation. Rather the guidelines focus on the procedures of counting and receiving votes at the polling stations. The guideline on how to provide assistance to those with disabilities is that: “A voter who cannot personally vote due to a disability, can receive assistance from a voting clerk. It is then allowed for two people to be present in the voting booth.” Furthermore, the guidelines also point out that in case a voter with disability cannot enter the premises of the polling station, the voting clerk can receive their vote outside, if this can be done in a secure manner. There is also a film available at the website of the Central Election Authority in five languages (Swedish, English, Turkish, Arabic and Farsi) about how to vote at a polling station, but there are no details on providing assistance to people with disabilities.
political-participation-persons-disabilities-se.docx