Human Rights Commissioner "Hopes for an Election Where Everyone Casts an Equal Vote"

Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, expressed her hope that there will be no restrictions on the voting rights of socially vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities and the elderly in the upcoming general election on the 15th.

On the 8th, Chairperson Choi stated in a press release, "Since this election must be held under the disaster situation of 'COVID-19,' greater efforts are needed to ensure the voting rights of socially vulnerable groups."

She said, "If proper accommodations are not provided throughout the entire voting process?from traveling to the polling station, entering the polling place, identity verification, to marking the ballot?for those who have disabilities or have difficulty moving due to old age or pregnancy, restrictions on exercising voting rights will follow. Since additional procedures such as hand sanitizing and wearing plastic gloves have been added in this election, it is necessary to provide related accommodations and to recognize that these are legitimate rights derived from the principles of ordinary and equal elections."

The Human Rights Commission stated, "In recent elections, issues have been reported such as ▲difficulty matching braille aids for the visually impaired to the ballot paper or exposure of marked results during the return process, ▲inappropriate braille blocks guiding to the polling station, ▲absence of sign language interpreters, ▲and conflicts with on-site election staff unfamiliar with the characteristics of disabilities."

According to the 2014 Disability Survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the voter turnout rate for persons with mental disabilities was 42.7%, and the rates of those not granted voting rights were 63.9% for persons with autism and intellectual disabilities, and 23.3%, respectively, depending on the type of disability.