As in every election since 2005, the My Right campaign (Haqqi) returned in the 2022 Parliamentary Elections to emphasize activating the role of persons with disabilities in political life, facilitating their participation in elections, and removing them from the state of marginalization that dominates their participation in political life, which is caused by architectural obstacles, the absence of alternative means to participate in elections, inherited and prejudiced ideas and an inferior view of their abilities.
Ahead of the 2022 parliamentary elections, the campaign set three demands: Using ground floor rooms as polling stations, operating elevators where they exist, and introducing polling stations in the courtyards polling centers where the first two are not available.
In the run-up to the elections (November 2021-May 2022), the campaign intensified its advocacy with the relevant ministries (Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and Ministry of Social Affairs). This was accompanied by an awareness-raising campaign that communicated its demands to stakeholders and individuals with disabilities through civil alliances and coalitions, international organizations related to electoral reform, disability organizations, and civil organizations.
Teams of observers and monitors from the Haqqi campaign toured the electoral centers (all schools provided by the Ministry) to monitor the proper conduct of the electoral process related to voters with disabilities. Overall, despite the violations, most of which can be overcome with the training of polling station chiefs and their assistants, security forces, and representatives of candidates and parliamentary blocs, it can be said that a positive breakthrough has been achieved, and the campaign has established the model of an inclusive electoral center by adopting the ground floor and introducing polling stations in the courtyards.
This report contains the results of the work of the monitoring teams, provided with the form, which was divided into three sections, preceded by a fourth section that is included in this report:
- Section 1: What is the human rights approach to disability?
- Section 2: The readiness of polling stations for voters with disabilities
- Section 3: Violations against voters
- Section 4: Interviews with voters with disabilities on election day