The Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with Full Inclusion, has deployed for the European elections of June 9 a set of initiatives to guarantee the accessible vote of all people with some type of disability, including those who suffer from cognitive disabilities (cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome…), thus attending to the demands of these groups that have been fighting for years for the full participation of these citizens in political life.
Among other measures, it is worth highlighting the extension to the capitals of all the autonomous communities of the signalling system that was tested in the electoral colleges of Madrid during the elections of 2023 and that has gradually been replicated in other electoral contests. This signage system is being installed in the 26 electoral venues of Pamplona, and offers clear and simple messages that help citizens with cognitive problems, mainly elderly people, with intellectual disability or with literacy difficulties, to orient themselves and move around the electoral colleges.
It is a series of pictograms that graphically indicate the location of the electoral college, the booths, the opening hours of the schools or the main steps to vote, among other issues.
The posters have been designed according to the ISO 22727:2007 standard on the creation and design of public information symbols and their comprehensibility has been evaluated following the UNE-ISO 9186 quality standard and with the participation of 158 people with intellectual disabilities. The signalling system includes an easy to read installation guide.
Support for table members with disabilities
Persons with disabilities can also be appointed as officers, so to ensure their full participation in the electoral process, the Administration has made available a number of support tools.
On the one hand, people with cognitive difficulties have been able to access table manuals adapted to easy reading and available in the five co-official languages (Spanish, Catalan, Valencian, Galician and Basque). In addition, the auditors and representatives also receive recommendations to ensure the full accessibility of voters with this type of disability, as well as how to relate to them in the most respectful way possible.
On the other hand, people who are deaf or hard of hearing have a free sign language interpretation service and a magnetic induction loop. For their part, blind or deaf-blind persons, both holders and alternates, have the support that may be determined by the Zone Electoral Board.
Accessible kit
14 people with visual impairment have requested in Navarre the accessible voting kit, which includes ballot papers, envelopes and complementary documentation in braille, allowing them to select their voting option with total autonomy.
More information on accessibility at:
https://info.eleccioneseuropeas2024.es/accesibilidad/guia-accesibilidad