"We hope that for the 2024 (elections), there will be no more polling stations that are not disabled-friendly," Bawaslu caretaker head Lolly Suhenty said at a press conference on the "Declaration of Disabled-Friendly Election Access" here on Thursday.
Suhenty informed that, as per the agency's records, 2,366 polling stations were not disabled-friendly during the 2019 General Elections, and their number declined to 1,089 in the 2020 Regional Elections.
She said that given the declining trend, she is optimistic that all polling stations will be accessible for people living with disabilities in 2024.
"Is it possible? Yes, it is," she emphasized.
Meanwhile, Suhenty said that the "Declaration of Disabled-Friendly Election Access" will be a momentum for the Indonesian nation to ensure that the 2024 General Elections are better, including for people with disabilities.
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She added that persons living with disabilities should not experience discrimination while exercising their right to vote in the 2024 elections.
"This declaration is momentum for Indonesia that the 2024 elections should be different. What is the difference? It is that there will be no more residents unable to vote, including people with disabilities. There will be no more residents struggling to access polling stations, including people with disabilities," she stated.
Earlier, Bawaslu, the National Commission on Disabilities, the Disabled-Accessible Election Center, and the Indonesian Association of Persons with Disabilities jointly declared their commitment to a disabled-friendly 2024 General Elections.
Young singer and America's Got Talent contestant Putri Ariani, who is visually impaired, led the reading of the declaration, which consists of four points.
The four points comprise taking action against violations of the political rights of persons with disabilities; supporting safe and peaceful elections that are free from hoaxes and hate speech; raising awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities during elections; and bolstering participative and inclusive monitoring of political rights of persons with disabilities.
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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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