NEC conducts regional awareness trainings for people with disabilities
The National Elections Commission (NEC) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, European Union, Sweden, Ireland and Canada conducts regional awareness trainings on the use of tactile ballots for people who are visually impaired.
People with disabilities is one of the key stakeholder group which is targeted by the NEC during the voter education programme. To guarantee that everyone has equal opportunity in the election process, the NEC aims to raise awareness and promote the equal participation of persons with disabilities in the upcoming elections. Awareness trainings will provide an opportunity especially to those who are visually impaired to acquire a skill on how to use of tactile ballot and to cast their vote in secret on the polling day. The trainings are held on September 18-19, in Bomi, September 25-26 in Margibi and September 28-29, 2017 in Nimba.
During the trainings, participants are trained on polling procedures and use of tactile ballot guides for presidential and house of representative elections. Facilitation methods are highly participatory which will include simulation exercises. As a follow-up to the training, participants will be expected to share and disseminate information on the use of tactile ballot upon return to their respective communities so that other visually impaired people who did not attend the workshop can get the information and opportunity to understand the tactile ballot and how to use it on the Polling Day.
The project is supported by the United Nations Development Programme, European Union, Ireland, Sweden and Canada is working in partnership with the National Elections Commission to strengthen the electoral system with a fund of USD16 million.-Press release
