Organizations for people with disabilities in the Gyeongnam region have called for the protection of voting rights for people with developmental disabilities in the 21st presidential election.
The Masan Changwon Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the With Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held a press conference at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Press Center on June 2, arguing, "People with developmental disabilities are also citizens of South Korea, but they have been unable to vote."
Masan Changwon Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and With Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are holding a press conference urging the guarantee of voting rights for people with developmental disabilities. Photo by Lee Seryung
They reported that on May 29 and 30, seven people with developmental disabilities attempted to vote at early polling stations in Seongsan-gu, Masan Hoewon-gu, and Masan Happo-gu in Changwon during the early voting for the 21st presidential election, but had to give up voting because they were not provided with voting assistants.
They explained, "People with developmental disabilities need more time to understand the voting process or the text on the ballot paper. Difficulties include not knowing Hangul, being rushed to mark the ballot in unfamiliar places, or feeling pressured by others." They added, "In order to guarantee the right to vote, it is necessary to provide support from voting assistants chosen by the individual."
They continued, "According to the National Election Commission manual, in cases where it is difficult to mark the ballot alone due to visual or physical disabilities, assistance can be provided by one family member or two people designated by the voter. However, there is no mention anywhere that voting assistants should be provided for people with developmental disabilities who cannot vote alone. As a result, election commission staff openly violate the voting rights of people with developmental disabilities."
They further questioned, "Should the exercise of voting rights by people with developmental disabilities be controlled at the discretion of election commission officials?" and demanded an official apology and measures to prevent recurrence from the National Election Commission, the Gyeongnam Election Commission, and the Changwon Election Commission.
They also called for: mandatory disability awareness training for election officials; the provision of easy-to-understand election materials for people with developmental disabilities; and the supply of voting aids with images such as party logos, candidate photos, and colors.
Hwang Hyunnyeo, director of Masan Changwon Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, is speaking about the voting rights of persons with developmental disabilities. Photo by Lee Seryeong
Hwang Hyunnyeo, director of the Masan Changwon Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, said, "We raised this issue three years ago during the local elections, but at that time and even now, support for voting assistants was only provided at some polling stations." She added, "Seven cases of giving up voting were reported to the center, and there are likely more unreported cases."
She also mentioned the court's temporary measure on May 30, which allowed two voting assistants designated by the person with developmental disabilities or their family, saying, "Although the temporary measure was permitted, assistance was still not provided on the day. We can no longer endure this, and as citizens, we will strongly assert our rights."
She emphasized, "They told us to get help from two election staff at the polling station, but how can you vote with someone you've never met before? Our voting rights were violated due to the prejudice that this could lead to election fraud."
After the press conference, they visited the Gyeongnam Election Commission to lodge a protest.
On June 3, the day of the 21st presidential election, they plan to visit polling stations together with the seven people who gave up early voting.
The center stated, "If proper support for voting assistants for people with developmental disabilities is not provided at polling stations in each region, we will respond strongly against the election commission."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
