Does a person with disabilities have the right to receive all the necessary support to vote, in secret, in elections for parliament?
Just one country, Argentina, answered in the negative: amongst other problems there is securing the vote for “a significant number of voters with disabilities who are hospitalised”. In just about one third (11) of the countries surveyed did apparently voters receive all the necessary support to vote in secret. Therefore in some 23 countries, together with California and New York state, there are problems.
Amongst the issues mentioned were: the inability of blind persons to vote in secret and supported decision-making for persons with intellectual disabilities (Canada); the lack of availability of Braille templates (Croatia); the lack of free transport and the inaccessibility of some ballots (Israel); and, the inability of those in institutions to vote (Serbia).
On the other hand, in Finland, for example, persons can vote from home and request assistance if desired. And, in Australia, voters who are blind or have low vision can vote, secretly, via telephone.
Any voter with a disability receives all necessary support to vote in secret.
Transport may not be free. Or personal assistance may be limited. Or a Braille ballot or template may not be available. Or a voter may not be able to vote freely or se- cretly in his or her institution.
No such right exist. Or, perhaps, a medical practitioner has prevented a person from voting by declaring him or her incompetent.
 Albania (ALB) |
Support is limited |
 Argentina (ARG) |
No such right exists |
 Australia (AUS) |
Support is limited |
 Austria (AUT) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Belgium – Federal State Walloon (BEL) |
Support is limited |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Bulgaria (BUL) |
Support is limited |
 Canada (CAN) |
Support is limited |
 Croatia (CRO) |
Support is limited |
 Czech Republic (CZE) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Denmark (DNK) |
Support is limited |
 Estonia (EST) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Finland (FIN) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 France (FRA) |
Support is limited |
 Germany (DEU) |
Support is limited |
 Hungary (HUN) |
Support is limited |
 Ireland (IRL) |
Support is limited |
 Israel (ISR) |
Support is limited |
 Italy (ITA) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Kosovo (RKS) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Macedonia (MKD) |
Support is limited |
 Mexico (MEX) |
Support is limited |
 Montenegro (MNE) |
Support is limited |
 Netherlands (NED) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Portugal (POR) |
Support is limited |
 Romania (ROU) |
Support is limited |
 Serbia (SRB) |
Support is limited |
 Slovakia (SVK) |
Support is limited |
 Slovenia (SLO) |
Support is limited |
 South Africa (RSA) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Spain (ESP) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Sweden (SWE) |
Support is limited |
 Switzerland (SUI) |
Voter receives all necessary support |
 Turkey (TUR) |
Support is limited |
 United Kingdom (UK) |
Support is limited |
 United States – California (US CA) |
Support is limited |
| United States – New York (US NY state) |
Support is limited |
