Brenna Matendere
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network has unpacked how people with disabilities can vote easier in future elections.
In a fresh position paper, ZESN aptly puts together recommendations aimed at improving polling facilities for voters with disabilities (PWDs) ahead of the country’s future elections.
The organization stresses the need for better accessibility to ensure all voters can exercise their rights independently and in secrecy.
Furthermore, ZESN‘s compendium calls for key measures to enhance polling stations for voters with disabilities.
Recommendations include the introduction of tactile ballot guides and better lighting at polling stations, including temporary setups such as tents. These changes aim to improve the voting experience for individuals with visual impairments, allowing them to vote privately and without assistance.
“Introduce additional measures to guarantee the right to vote in secrecy and enable voters with visual impairments to vote without assistance, such as tactile ballot guides, as well as improved lighting in polling stations, including temporary structures such as tents is key,” reads part of the position paper.
Southern African nations have already implemented similar measures. South Africa and Namibia, for instance, have enhanced accessibility features at polling stations, including tactile voting devices and improved lighting, leading to increased voter turnout among PWDs. In South Africa, the integration of braille and tactile aids, notably through the Universal Ballot Template (UBT), has significantly improved accessibility for disabled voters.
For the 2024 general elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) collaborated with organizations such as the South African National Council for the Blind to introduce these aids.
The IEC also offered special voting options, including home visits for voters unable to visit polling stations on election day.
Additionally, the IEC provided two versions of the UBT-a double-column UBT for the national ballot and a single-column UBT for provincial and regional ballots -and established a special account dedicated to ensuring equal access for voters with disabilities. Namibia has also seen higher voter turnout among its disabled population due to improved polling station accessibility.
Article 29 stresses the importance of accessible voting procedures requiring states to ensure that disabled individuals can participate in elections on an equal basis with others.
Nyasha Mahwende, a PWD rights advocate endorsed the ZESN recommendations, highlighting their importance for independent and confidential voting. She urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to act swifty on these recommendations.
“We applaud the recommendations made by ZESN,” Mahwende said. ” However, timely and effective implementation is crucial. The ZEC must ensure that all polling stations, including temporary ones, are equipped with the necessary aids and adjustments to support independent voting for PWDs. Improving polling facilities is not just about fairness; it’s about fulfilling our democratic promise that every voice matters.
ZESN was formed in 2000 as a coalition of 37 non-governmental organizations formed to co-ordinate activities pertaining to elections. The major focus of the Network is to promote democratic processes in general and fair elections in particular.
Recently the Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) and ZESN jointly deployed a ten-member observer mission with experienced observation practitioners to observe polling processes in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape Provinces during the National and Provincial elections.
The primary objective of the Joint Observer Mission was to evaluate whether the South African electoral process adhered to national laws and to determine if the country’s electoral framework aligns with regional and international principles, norms, standards, and best practices.
This initiative underscores the Network’s dedication to advancing democratic integrity and transparent electoral processes throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
After the observer mission, ZESN proffered several recommendations for SADC member states that can help improve their elections to ensure their results are not contested.
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