You are an electoral authority: Checklist to ensure equal and accessible voting and election campaigns

Before the elections

  1. Ensure no distinction is made based on the type of disability, or assumption on the ability to exercise legal capacity resulting in voting denial
  2. Ensure voter education, voter registration, and voting at sites which are accessible for citizens with physical and other disabilities;
  3. Ensure that voters who reside in short-term or long-term institutions, and those who are home-bound by disability, must be able to exercise the right to register to vote and the right to vote
  4. Ensure access to justice and redress in case of violation of right
  5. Ensure to consult with disabled people organisations when taking any decision or action for persons with disabilities

Awareness raising actions and legislation

  1. election authorities should enact non-discriminatory regulations and guidelines
  2. Training should be provided to polling staff, election authorities,
  3. Society should be informed about the electoral rights of persons with disabilities, and about the manner in which these citizens can exercise their right to vote.

Election campaigns

  1. Ensure accessibility of websites providing instructions for voting and information on candidates, including EP main and national websites
  2. Ensure accessibility of information from political parties
  3. Ensure accessibility of main electoral debates on internet, TV with subtitling, and sign language
  4. Ensure access of citizens with disabilities to electoral meetings
  5. Ensure candidates with disabilities are offered reasonable accommodation in order to have same opportunities as other candidates

Independent access during the vote

  1. Ensure the right to vote in secret and autonomously at public polling stations through design of voting system and process: design for all for voting machines,
  2. Provide alternatives to paper ballots with braille, large print, pictorial guides in voting
  3. Provide lists of candidates in alternative formats
  4. Look at other communication barriers: braille, large print, audio or electronic devices

Assisted vote

  1. Enable people to vote directly without assistance at polling stations
  2. Alternatives must be freely chosen by the voter

Tips on assisted voting:

  1. voter to decide who provides assistance;
  2. assistant satisfying all criteria for voting as established by law;
  3. electoral agency should provide an official assistant, in cases where the voter requiring assistance does not or can not
  4. the assistant is formally obliged to ensure the intent and secrecy of the vote
  5. any violation of this obligation shall result in a penalty

Off site vote

  1. Provide sufficient resources for off-site voting mechanisms;
  2. Organise outreach campaigns on availability of off-site voting deadlines and processes;

In cooperation with Disabled People Organisations, identify effective off-site voting mechanisms how best to register individuals who will require the use of off-site voting options such as :


For further information, visit the International Foundation for Electoral Systems website