The majority of people with disabilities in Montenegro believe that electoral bodies do not provide sufficient support, which is why voters with disabilities feel neglected. 54 percent of them said they faced obstacles while voting in the 2023 elections. Also, 45 percent of voters believe that polling committees were not sure how to approach them and talk to them at the polling station.
These are some of the findings in the report entitled "Persons with disabilities - voting in elections", which was prepared by the OSCE Mission in Montenegro after the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The mission said the report examined the views and experiences of 94 voters with disabilities, who it said agreed more must be done to make elections more accessible.
When asked how things can be changed for the better, some respondents said that people with disabilities should learn about their voting rights.
"Electoral bodies need to understand the needs of PWDs in order to know how to offer them support during the electoral process. Some of them believe that a register of persons with disabilities should be established, while some have proposed changes to the electoral legislation in order to improve their experience as voters , which includes the fact that PWDs have their own representative in the Assembly," the announcement states.
Giovanni Gabasi, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, said that this report provides useful suggestions on what can be done to help people with disabilities have a more positive election experience.
"Removing barriers is essential to ensure that everyone can freely exercise their constitutional right to vote independently and by secret ballot. People with disabilities do not feel supported when voting and running for office. They struggle with access to political and voting information. The mission is determined to provide support to electoral bodies and non-governmental organizations dealing with the rights of persons with disabilities in improving the accessibility of elections," said Gabasi.
The Mission in Montenegro thanked all voters with disabilities who spoke about their experience of voting in the 2023 elections, as well as the Association of Disabled Youth and the Association of the Blind for their long-term partnership and contribution to the preparation of the report.
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