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Unusual Polling Station Setup Under Soccer Goal Arch in Peru Facilitates Voters with Disabilities
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ช Peru /Sports

Unusual Polling Station Setup Under Soccer Goal Arch in Peru Facilitates Voters with Disabilities

From La Repรบblica · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • A polling station in Carabayllo, Peru, was unusually set up under a soccer goal arch for the June 7 election runoff.
  • The setup aimed to accommodate voters with physical disabilities who might have difficulty accessing other levels of the polling center.
  • This arrangement allowed voters in wheelchairs or with mobility issues to cast their ballots on the ground floor.

In an unconventional move for Peru's second round of elections on June 7, a polling station was established beneath the arch of a soccer field in Carabayllo. The unusual setup took place at the El Progreso school, where the sports structure was adapted with black fabric and tables to serve as a voting module.

The primary reason behind this unique arrangement was to facilitate voting for citizens with physical disabilities. According to a reporter on the scene, military personnel indicated that the location was chosen to assist individuals who might have trouble ascending to other floors of the educational institution or who use wheelchairs.

The Army personnel told us that it was for people who might have difficulty going upstairs or are in wheelchairs.

โ€” ReporterThe reporter explained the reason given for the polling station's location under the soccer goal.

The setup involved covering the soccer goal with black fabric and installing a private voting booth in the center. While the space was prepared, it was noted that the required poll workers had not yet arrived. The program's host further explained that this type of setup is designed to avoid the need for poll workers to travel to different floors to assist voters with mobility issues.

Traditionally, if such voters were assigned to upper floors, poll workers would have to descend and return, causing delays. This ground-level booth streamlines the process, ensuring that voters with physical challenges can cast their ballots more easily and with greater dignity.

What normally happened is that if these people were supposed to vote on a second or third floor, the poll workers from that voting center would go down to the first floor and come back. That's why there's no number (at the booth located in the arch).

โ€” Program hostThe host elaborated on the logistical advantages of the ground-level polling booth.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Repรบblica in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.