Anambra Election: Access Nigeria’s polling unit accessibility audit findings and recommendations

TQM report,

The Access Nigeria Campaign conducted its fourth polling unit accessibility audit during the November 6, 2021, off-cycle governorship election in Anambra State.

The group deployed over 200 observers with disabilities to 200 polling units across Anambra State and Access Nigeria observers successfully sent reports from 178 polling units, representing an 89 per cent response rate. Out of the 23 observers that did not observe or complete their observation, six were assigned to polling units that INEC did not assign any voters to, 12 dropped out of the observation due to fear of violence and four sent in incomplete reports. The findings outlined below accurately capture accessible voting or lack thereof, and the availability of Election Day materials in accessible formats for voters with disabilities in Anambra State.

On Access to Polling Units, the Access Nigeria observers findings are

• 54 per cent of the routes (roads) leading to the areas where sampled polling units were located were inaccessible for PWDs
• Reports also showed that there were neither ramps nor handrails for use by PWDs outside the sampled polling units at 94 per cent of voting locations
• Reports showed that 71 per cent of sampled polling units in Anambra State were located in public buildings, predominantly in schools (44 per cent) and town halls (25 per cent). Within these public buildings, the sampled polling units were mainly located on corridors (36 per cent), open spaces (34 per cent) and town halls (19 per cent).
• Access Nigeria observers also reported that 21 per cent of sampled polling units were located in public open spaces, especially village squares (16 per cent) and roadsides (nine per cent).

On Internal Polling Unit Layout, Access Nigeria Observers reports:

• At 54 per cent of sampled polling units, Access Nigeria observers reported that it was difficult for voters with disabilities to enter the polling units and vote. This was largely due to barriers like corridors and steps. Similarly, at 49 per cent of sampled polling units, the internal layout made it difficult for voters with disabilities to participate in accreditation and voting.
• Observers reported that there were no ramps and handrails inside 90 per cent of sampled polling units for use by voters with disabilities.

On Polling Unit Materials, Access Nigeria Observers reports:

• The Braille ballot guide was not deployed at 54 per cent of sampled polling units.
• The height of the ballot box was not suitable for voters with disabilities, particularly for those who use wheelchairs, at 36 per cent of sampled polling units.
• Form EC 40H was not available at 35 per cent of sampled polling units to collect data of voters with disabilities who voted on Election Day.
• At 46 per cent of polling units, the INEC Form EC 30E PWD was not pasted for use by voters with hearing impairments.

On Election Day Procedures, Access Nigeria Observers reports:

• At 34 per cent of sampled polling units, persons with disabilities were not given priority on the queue to vote.
• At 20 per cent of polling units, voting with visual impairments or blindness used the Braille Ballot guide. This number showed that if the Braille ballot guide was available at more polling units, more visually impaired and blind voters would have been able to use it.

The group recommended that:

INEC

• INEC to ensure that newly created polling units are accessible to PWDs and to relocate previously created inaccessible polling units. This process can be achieved simultaneously with the allocation of voters to the newly created polling units that were previously not assigned any voters.
• INEC should ensure the provision of ramps and handrails outside and inside the polling units so that PWDs can cast their vote without any barriers.
• INEC should categorize the Braille ballot guide as sensitive material to ensure timely and effective deployment for all national and state elections.
• INEC should strengthen the training of regular and ad hoc staff to effectively administer accessible Election Day materials and accommodations for voters with disabilities.
• INEC should ensure that voting cubicles are designed to enable voters with disabilities to cast their ballots confidentially as well as ensure ballot boxes are placed in areas that allow voters with disabilities to vote independently.
• INEC should continue to engage and consult with the disability community, including IFA, to identify areas to be improved for more inclusive electoral processes.
• INEC, the Police, and other security agencies under the platform of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) should develop and implement a clear plan for the protection of PWDs during elections in consultation with the disability community.

• The federal and state governments to work with various agencies and the private sector to ensure that public buildings are built and renovated by the 2023 deadline to accommodate PWDs in their daily life by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018.
• The executive, at all levels, should strengthen existing building codes and enforce them to guarantee accessibility for PWDs during and beyond elections.

• The National Assembly should provide adequate funding in the 2022 budget for INEC to procure assistive electoral materials, equipment, and services like the braille ballot guide, election day written instruction, magnifying glasses etc for the 2022 Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and 2023 general elections.
• The National Assembly should consider the amendment of section 56 (2) of the 2010 Electoral Act to make the provision of accessible election materials for voters with disabilities mandatory in all elections.
• The National Assembly should ensure that the executive implements specific sections of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Act 2018 through effective legislative oversight.
• The National Assembly should also perform its oversight functions of INEC to ensure that all measures for accessibility are implemented in line with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Act 2018.

• The Access Nigeria Campaign calls on the police and other security agencies to develop a special protocol to protect voters and observers with disabilities during elections. We also call on the police and other security agencies to ensure that whenever these protocols are developed, their personnel are well trained to implement these provisions. The experience of the 2021 governorship elections shows how much security can determine the outcome of elections

• The media should make deliberate efforts to conduct voter education that compliments the efforts of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in promoting the participation of PWDs in Nigeria’s electoral and political processes
• Media executives should consider disability inclusion in its broadcast and news production to promote inclusive practices in Nigeria including the consistent utilization of sign language interpretation.

• The Access Nigeria Campaign commends all organizations working toward safer, more inclusive free and fair elections in Nigeria. The campaign calls on these organizations to continue to engage with the disability community to ensure their efforts are inclusive and provide opportunities for PWDs to contribute to their work either as advisors to ensure a disability lens on their work or including PWDs as participants in activities.

In the report findings signed by Grace Jerry, Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association and the Convener of Access Nigeria Campaign, the group stated that Nigerians with disabilities want to participate in the electoral and political processes of Nigeria as indicated by their participation as both voters and observers during the Anambra State governorship election. However, accessibility challenges, stigmas, and stereotypes continue to persist and undermine PWDs abilities to participate in electoral and political activities. While INEC has taken great strides to improve its priority voting policy and implement voting accommodations, poll officials consistently fail to understand the significance of inclusion or take actions that promote the participation of all groups.