The Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons with Disabilities (EVAPWD), an initiative of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) targeted at observing provisions made by INEC for persons with Disabilities’ participation in the election and raise awareness on equal voting rights for citizens with disabilities on the September 19, 2020 Edo State governorship election, bemoaned over inadequate provisions for Deaf Voters in Edo State.
In a statement released on Saturday, EVAPWD chairman, David Anyaele commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of today’s election, as he observed good turnout of voters as early as 8am.
He said, “EVAPWD is impressed to observe that marginalized populations – the aged, nursing mothers and pregnant women and persons with disabilities were offered priority voting in most of the polling units observed. We commend Polling Officials for their efforts in this regard. Regrettably, many voters with hearing impairments struggled without success to benefit from this provision.”
“EVA4PWD observers observed that the promised Braille voter’s guide and Braille ballot paper by INEC for easy access of Election Day instructions, guidelines and ballot paper for the Blind voters were scarcely available, where it was available, many INEC Ad-hoc Staff didn’t know it, as they were calling their office, while some said they forgot it. At Polling Unit 003, Car Park Ward 1, Oredo LGA, an observer assisted in locating the Braille material.”
He said the Observers did not see any magnified lens at the Polling Units, those that claimed to have one could not provide it for observers to see.
“EVAPWD also observed that Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials such as Election Day instructions and guidelines to assist the deaf or persons with hearing impairment understanding of voting process were missing at majority of the polling units visited. This is a barrier to accessibility according to election day procedure for the deaf or hearing impaired voters.”
“EVAPWD observers report shows that large numbers of the polling units were not accessible to physically challenged persons. These polling units were sited in difficult places such as buildings without ramps/handrail, across gutter, staircase etc.”
“Observance of INEC Covid-19 guideline were not adhered to in majority of the Polling Units visited in Oredo LGA. There were large crowd at Greater Tomorrow High School Oredo Ward 1, Rama Park at Ikpoba Okha, Oredo LGA among other Polling Units.”
With the above stated observations, he expressed displeasure over INEC’s displayed minimal commitment to the implementation of the Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the Electoral Process and the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.
He therefore urges INEC to address these issues as observed by EVAPWD.
“We urge INEC to address these issues as observed by EVAPWD observers, especially as we move towards Ondo State Governorship election next month.