Disabled people in 15 EU countries face voting barriers like inaccessible polling stations and lack of aids.
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Fifteen European countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain, present difficulties for people with disabilities when voting. Issues include a lack of accessible voting equipment, Braille information, audio data, easily understandable information, and accessibility of polling stations, with some countries still legally prohibiting disabled individuals with social care needs from voting. The FRA director states that the right to vote is fundamental to a functioning democracy, yet too many disabled EU citizens cannot exercise this right. In Lithuania, experts highlight that past barriers included inaccessible polling locations, though this has improved since 2018 due to NGO efforts and court cases, with 88% of polling stations now accessible to wheelchair users. However, comprehensive accessibility, including transportation and navigating surrounding obstacles, remains an issue. Information accessibility, such as the lack of materials in Braille or easy-to-understand language, is another concern. While progress has been made, experts call for a holistic approach to reducing environmental barriers in public spaces and improving informational accessibility. Across the EU, while some countries have made strides in improving conditions for disabled voters, many still face limitations, and calls are made for all EU member states to eliminate voting rights restrictions based on intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. Spain and Bulgaria have specific measures in place to ensure voting rights for disabled citizens, such as accessible polling stations and home voting options.
