“We Also Want to Vote!” Demand for Voting Rights Guarantee for People with Developmental Disabilities

On the 25th, a press conference demanding the guarantee of voting rights for people with developmental disabilities was held in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Election Commission. [Image source: Changwon Jungbu Police Station]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the 25th, Gyeongnam People First, an organization for people with developmental disabilities, held a press conference in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Election Commission demanding the guarantee of voting rights.

The members insisted that as citizens they must protect their rightful voting rights and demanded ▲public voting assistance support ▲provision of easy-to-understand election materials ▲production of pictorial ballots including party logos, candidate photos, and colors ▲holding local briefings and mock voting sessions.

They claimed that during the 20th presidential election on March 9, they faced discrimination such as being unable to cast their votes due to lack of voting assistance.

"At the time of the presidential election, the Central Election Commission's voting staff said that only people with hand disabilities could receive voting assistance, and that developmental disabilities were not eligible," they said.

They also emphasized, "The Election Commission's public notices and election booklets are filled with Chinese characters, English, technical terms, and neologisms, making it difficult for people with developmental disabilities to understand," and stressed the need for materials made in simple language.

"Countries like Taiwan, Scotland, and the United Kingdom produce ballots that include party logos and candidate photos," they explained, "but our country's ballots only have numbers and text, and the boxes are too small, making it difficult to stamp."

They urged the need for programs that inform people with developmental disabilities about the election process and voting methods, similar to how the education office conducts mock voting for 18-year-old youths.