Equal Access: Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in electoral processes

From October 15 through 17, in Kyiv, IFES Ukraine and the IFES-Central Election Commission Joint Training Center, hosted a three-day BRIDGE workshop titled, “Equal Access: Inclusive Elections for People with Disabilities”. 

The BRIDGE workshop welcomed 25 participants (15 women and 10 men) representing the CEC, Ukrainian civic organizations focused on people with disabilities and universities.

The workshop combined theory and practice to enhance participants’ understanding of guaranteeing electoral rights of people with disabilities and creating opportunities for their active participation in society’s political and social life.

Using an interactive, empirical and case-based approach, the workshop presented information alongside practical exercises that highlight existing barriers for people with disabilities throughout the electoral cycle. It also reviewed specific practices from different countries worldwide and encouraged participants to propose solutions to electoral challenges.

CEC member Serhiy Postivy presented and accepted feedback from participants on ways to implement reasonable accommodations for voters with disabilities at polling stations during Ukraine’s post-war elections.

The workshop created an opportunity for participants to share experiences, encourage dialogue and promote collaboration between various public institutions and civil society to advance electoral rights for persons with disabilities.

“It was incredibly valuable to explore international experiences that have significantly improved the active and seamless participation of voters with disabilities in elections,” said CEC representative Liudmyla Kuzmenko. “The knowledge gained from this three-day training will undoubtedly be applied to organizing relevant educational programs, information dissemination and training initiatives.”

“This training has really been helpful for me,” said veteran Dmytro Hnatiuk. “As a veteran, I get how important it is for us to find ways to reintegrate into society, like getting involved in the electoral process. Plus, with so many people experiencing disabilities from the war, we need to make sure they can access all their rights, especially the right to vote. It’s crucial that political parties don’t just use veterans to boost their image or ratings. Veterans should be the ones actively participating in elections and representing our community’s interests.”