Improving conditions for personal and independent voting citizens with disabilities

Association of Election Officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina (AEOBiH) implemented the project "Improvement of conditions for personal and independent voting citizens with disabilities" in the period March 2012 - November 2013 thanks to funds from USAID.

The aim of the project was to help the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina with disabilities so as to facilitate their participation in the electoral process. This project is implemented in partnership with the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired of the Sarajevo Canton, the Council of DPOs of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Coordinating Committee of Disabled Persons of the Republic of Serbian, and "Everyone Counts" American agency to modernize the election, in order to realize problems and challenges faced by this group of voters.

During the project were tested traditional and technological methods for better access to the voting process, introduced a pilot computer program and devices that enable persons with disabilities to fully use and enjoy the franchise. 2972 persons with disabilities have tested the proposed equipment and stated that such method is easier for them but also dignified and fully enables them to enjoy electoral rights and narčito right to privacy. One of the results of the project are created recommendations for the establishment of policies and procedures that will enable persons with disabilities to vote independently and privately, which were handed over to the BiH Parliament for consideration.

For more information you can visit the website AEOBiH www.aeobih.com, or contact Zvjezdana Dragovic, Executive Director of the e-mail zvjezdanad@aeobih.com.ba.