IN a few weeks, Guyanese from all across the country will head to polling stations to exercise their democratic right to vote for a leader of their choice. This very right is outlined in Guyana’s Constitution. However, this right is infringed upon when Guyanese living with disabilities can’t even vote because of the inaccessibility of polling stations across the country. The right to vote is outlined and adhered to; however, equal opportunities for accessibility in the voting process do not always exist.

In Guyana, many of our public buildings such as schools, are utilised as polling stations and, unfortunately, the majority of them lack accessibility for persons living with disabilities. These public facilities lack ramps, widened doorways, accessible washrooms, and designated disability parking spaces. This is a fact that was proven in our last 2020 General and Regional Elections.
According to the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), in 2020, only 55 per cent of polling stations had staircases, and only 12.3 per cent were equipped with ramps, leaving 87.7 per cent of the stations without accessibility. This observation was conducted in collaboration between GCOPD and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, with 42 observers deployed across over 560 polling stations nationwide.

It is also important to note that disabilities are not limited only to physical characteristics. Historically, polling station agents have not been trained in sign language, and the fonts are not large enough for the visually impaired. Our Constitution, as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, outlines that persons living with disabilities have the right to vote.

Are these current realities not a violation of these laws and policies? Are they also not a violation of human rights and dignity? Should our polling stations not have access and disability assistance? Should the ballots not be accessible to all citizens for easy understanding and voting? These questions and more are asked every election cycle by disability advocates all across Guyana, but unfortunately, there is little to no change or consensus.

Voting is a civic right and should not be violated simply because of how one walks, talks, or comprehends. The ballots should include braille for the visually impaired, there should be trained sign language polling agents at every station across Guyana, and a wider voter education campaign should be implemented that accommodates all disabilities, including sign- language advertising. Access to voting is not a favour that can be granted—it is a right and ought to be respected at all times.

I understand that persons living with disabilities can vote by proxy, but this does not mean that it should be their only option. While we may still have limited resources this election season to address the accessibility issues at polling stations, I hope that as you read this, you will be inspired to help those with disabilities to vote. They should not be discouraged because of a lack of parking or ramps. Instead, you can motivate them by pledging your assistance to local community members living with disabilities on the day of the elections. If you’re a polling agent, you can also try to understand the types of disabilities and ways in which you can assist without disturbing the voting process on Election Day.

I urge you all to open the doors for these discussions in local villages and communities throughout the year, not just every five years. We must hold our electoral systems accountable because Guyana can only truly ever be a state of inclusion and representation when every citizen can vote independently, fairly, and with dignity.