Political participation for all - barrier-free elections

Where are inclusion and accessibility more relevant than in political elections? We live in a democratic society in which concepts such as pluralism and diversity are very important. This makes it all the more important for us to give everyone a voice. In the practical implementation of elections, people who are dependent on support can encounter various problems. In the following article, you can find out what these can be and what is being done to remove these barriers.

The topic could not be more topical, especially in Bavaria: The state and district elections will take place here on October 8, 2023. A high voter turnout is vital. Political participation for all is the keyword. The equal right of all people to vote is already enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

• Art. 1: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."

• According to Art. 2, no one may be deprived of this right on the grounds of "race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property or other status"

Political participation for all, but how?

As diverse as the forms of disabilities are, the barriers they create can be just as varied. And of course this also applies to voting.

For people with visual impairments or cognitive disabilities, for example, it can be fundamentally difficult to obtain the necessary information about the elections (about the parties/politicians, their election programs, accessibility of polling stations, etc.). Making this making this information as easily accessible as possible can be a great help. The accessible design of the respective party's website can already make a difference here. So: provide all information in simple language, use sufficient color contrasts and legible font type and size, and include subtitles on videos, etc.

Without knowledge, it is difficult to vote. Accessibility to information is an absolute necessity when it comes to elections. To this end, the Bavarian government provides a so-called "election help booklet" for this purpose. This summarizes the most important facts about elections in simple language.

The magazine can be ordered here.

https://www.blz.bayern.de/einfach-verstehen-die-landtags-wahl-und-die-bezirks-wahlen-in-bayern_p_458.html

or can also be downloaded.

https://www.behindertenbeauftragter.bayern.de/service/publikationen/index.php#sec2 

Of course, the active, barrier-free design of the local polling station is also essential to ensure equal treatment for all. There are various aspects that should be taken into account in order to make life easier for people with various disabilities.

For example, it can help to make the infrastructure of the polling station as clear as possible. This can mean illuminating and signposting the routes well and keeping them as obstacle-free as possible. Of course, there should also be barrier-free access to the building. As far as the design is concerned, the Federal Government of Bavaria has also published a flyer with some tips.

You can find it here: https://www.behindertenbeauftragter.bayern.de/imperia/md/content/stmas/behindertenbeauftragte/bayer_behindertenbeauftragter_flyer_barrierefreie_wahllokale_barrierefrei.pdf

The tips mentioned here are just a few of many that can help to enable equal political participation for all people. Together, we can give everyone a voice and create a future in which everyone has a say.