The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights of European citizens. The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability highlighted the fact that “it is not only about taking part in the political process, but about being included in society and having our voice heard.”

However, it pointed out that “several groups of people are denied this right to vote, since European and national elections are not accessible to them.”

The MFOPD quoted – “Be it for the electoral campaigns providing information which is complicated and hard to understand, or for lack of accessibility measures, the general set up of elections often excludes some citizens who therefore cannot exercise their right to vote and take part in elections. This includes people with intellectual, sensory and physical disabilities, as well as the elderly and other groups at risk of non-participation due to language or other barriers such as EU citizens living in another EU member state,” (Inclusion Europe)

The elections for the Maltese Members of the European Parliament are round the corner and, “once again, some persons with disabilities will not be able to exercise their right to vote. Some will go to vote but will not be able to do so in secrecy like all the rest. This same situation persists in our general elections,” the Federation said.

It insisted that “this is unacceptable. We have a situation where some persons with disabilities in Malta are ‘politely’ being refused the right to choose the person/s who they trust will work on their issues to make their lives better.”

The MFOPD said that article 3 of Protocol No. 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to elect the government of his/her country by secret vote. Without this right there can be no free and fair elections.”

MFOPD urged the Maltese Parliament “to put the right to vote for all citizens on its Agenda and for both parties to take the same stand on this right – to leave no one behind.”

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