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Helping Persons with Disabilities Vote
Throughout the years, IFES programs across the world have worked on projects to help those with disabilities gain access to the election process. These projects include efforts to form policy about the right for those with disabilities to vote and campaigns to assist disabled voters on polling day. Here are examples of some of IFES’s past efforts across the world to increase election access for the disabled.
News & Updates
Press Release
IFES Statement on the Defeat of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in the U.S. Senate
A statement by Bill Sweeney, president and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), regarding the defeat of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in the U.S. Senate on December 4, 2012.
News & Updates
Feature
Increasing Access for a More Vibrant Democracy
Although 15 percent of the world has some form of disability, this population encounters many barriers to equal participation in political life. IFES believes that democracy can only flourish when all citizens can contribute to their communities. The images in this photo gallery demonstrate some of the ways countries around the world have increased access to the electoral system.
News & Updates
Feature
Advocating for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is home to an estimated 60 million persons with disabilities – 15 percent of the total population in the region. In Southeast Asia, and throughout the world, persons with disabilities have been marginalized from the democratic and political process. IFES regional and subject experts are increasing political access for this population by empowering and strengthening local organizations to ensure their voices are heard. In this podcast, disability rights experts Virginia Atkinson, Chris Donn and Yusdiana discuss the situation of persons with disabilities in Southeast Asia and outline steps that can be taken to increase their participation in the democratic process.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Becoming an Inclusion Advocate: A Q&A with Anais Keenon
Anais Keenon, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in international development from Gallaudet University, is on her way to becoming a leader in the international disability inclusion movement. A native of Wilsonville, Oregon, she spent the summer working with IFES’ Inclusion Officer Virginia Atkinson analyzing the legal frameworks of countries around the world to see how they perform in recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities. She answers some questions on how laws help promote equal access, what it really means to be inclusive and what people can do to better foster awareness.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Fostering Partnerships to Increase Political Access in Haiti
One of IFES’ main goals in Haiti is to increase access to the political process for persons with disabilities. Alessandra Rossi, IFES Chief of Party in Haiti, sheds light on IFES’ work in this area in the island nation.
News & Updates
Feature
Georgia PSA: Independent Person -- Free Choice
To this end, IFES supported the Coalition for Independent Living's (CIL) voter motivation and education campaign. This umbrella group of over 25 disabled persons' organizations produced a public service announcement targeting voters with disabilities, which explains the importance of participation and provides an overview of the services available for those requiring additional assistance ahead of and on Election Day.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Disabilities Advocate and Expert on Why Equality Matters
David Morrissey, Executive Director of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities, tells us what ratifying the CRPD would mean for Americans with disabilities in the U.S. and abroad.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Former Legal Fellow Applying Degree to Disabilities Policy
Kathleen Cornelsen spent a summer as a legal fellow with IFES researching laws on disability and voting. She continues to apply her legal skills to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
News & Updates
Feature
Voters with Disabilities Beat Barriers
For many around the world, casting a ballot is taken for granted. However, when elections are inaccessible, citizens with disabilities might be left out. To increase voting accessibility for persons with disabilities – awareness-raising, advocacy and training are key. IFES strives to remove barriers that prohibit the full participation of persons with disabilities as voters and candidates in elections. These photos capture the involvement of persons with disabilities throughout the electoral cycle.