Commissioner recommends accessible voting for blind and visually impaired in Serbia

Serbia's Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Milan Antonijević, has urged the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) to implement measures ensuring blind and visually impaired voters can cast their ballots independently and secretly. The recommendations aim to remove existing barriers that prevent many from exercising their right to vote freely.

Antonijević specifically advised the RIK to equip all polling stations nationwide with tactile ballot templates and other assistive devices. These tools would allow visually impaired voters to read and complete their ballots without assistance, thereby preserving the secrecy of their vote. The commissioner also stressed the importance of adapting voting instructions and information, and respecting the right of individuals with disabilities to choose a person to assist them if they wish.

The commissioner highlighted that while the constitution and laws guarantee equal and secret voting rights, practical challenges persist. The current electoral materials are often not adapted, leading to situations where voters cannot independently mark their choices, compromising their right to express their political will without external influence.

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Although the Constitution and laws guarantee equal and secret voting rights for everyone, in practice, blind and visually impaired voters continue to face various obstacles at polling stations. Due to unadapted electoral materials, many of them cannot independently mark their candidate, which violates the secrecy of their vote and deprives them of the right to freely express their political will without external scrutiny.

Furthermore, the recommendation states that ensuring accessible voting for the blind and visually impaired should not depend on knowledge of Braille or the use of specific technical aids. Instead, multiple, complementary methods for accessing electoral materials and voting must be provided. This approach ensures that every voter can select the method best suited to their individual needs.

Accessible and secret voting, the commissioner stated, is a fundamental requirement for equal participation in political and public life. By facilitating independent and secret voting for visually impaired citizens, Serbia not only removes a specific obstacle but also strengthens the inclusivity of its electoral process, enhances public trust in elections, and bolsters the democratic legitimacy of elected representatives.

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Ensuring accessible and secret voting is a necessary condition for exercising the right to equal participation in political and public life. By providing conditions for independent and secret voting for blind and visually impaired voters, Serbia not only removes a concrete obstacle in exercising electoral rights but also strengthens the inclusivity of the electoral process, citizens' trust in elections, and the democratic legitimacy of elected representatives.