307 persons with disabilities participated in this survey, conducted between 26 May and 27 June 2019 (see technical description at the end). The survey collected information to elaborate suggestions and contributions to make next electoral process more accessible.

Difficulties during the exercise of the right to vote
Among 68.1% (n=209) of the surveyed with disabilities who responded to have effectively voted, 48.2% (n=148) said that their participation, in general, went well. With all, others highlighted some difficulties related to the exercise of voting rights, such as:

• The person had to be accompanied because they could not fill in the ballot paper alone (n=24);
• The person had to ask for help to fold the ballot paper (n=16);
• Difficulties related to arquitectonical barriers to access the polling station (n=17);
• Difficulties related to the use of braille (n=4) or to the use of the electronic vote (n=4);
• Not being allowed to vote with support (n=3).

Testimony on voting with support
“I did not manage to use the pen or fold the ballot. For me, the ideal would be an electronic voting system.”

Man, superior education

Testimony on the use of braille matrix
“The president of the polling station introduced the ballot into the braille matrix the wrong way round. I barely noticed it, only because of the relief which was on the wrong side, which is why I requested help from the polling station to verify the position of the voting ballot.”

Woman, 40, superior education

Testimony on the lack of accessibility:
“The desk at the polling station is not easy to access with a wheel chair (…). Even if it is a bit lower, it’s legs impede a wheel chair to get close to it. At the entrance of the hall there is a step of approx. 10 cm.  It’s a recurrent situation despite of the complaints received every election.”

Man, 30, secondary education

Support persons with disabilities would have like to receive BEFORE the elections
The suggested support for the electoral campaign aims to improve the understanding and communication between political parties and the electorate with disabilities, proposing, in general terms, to adapt the communication strategies of political parties to persons with disabilities’ specific needs.
The participants who exercised their voting rights were also asked on the support they would have liked to receive before election day. These were the most relevant replies:

• Information on the election (where do you vote, what are we voting for, etc.) available in easy-to-understand language (n=54);
• Electoral programmes of the political parties in easy-to-read format (n=51);
• Support to understand what political parties are saying. For example, their speeches and/or videos (n=35);
• Interpretation of the campaign session of the candidates in Portuguese Sign Language (n=17);
• Explanation of how to use the electronic vote (n=15);
• The electoral programmes of the political parties in braille (n=7);
• Knowing whether I would be able to vote / if my name was on the voting census (n=7);
• Explanation on how to vote (e.g. friends, families, others) (n=6);
• Explanation on how to use the braille grid (n=4).

 Testimony on the needs to subtitling the electoral information
“Subtitle all videos from the campaign, the debates and the information on the electoral process. Many deaf persons do not speak LGP (Portuguese Sign Language) and have a right to access information and communication to exercise their voting right consciously and informed.”

Woman, 28, superior education 

 Support for people with disabilities would have liked on ELECTION DAY

Following suggestions were made answering the question what kind of support would you have liked to receive on election day:

• The option to use the electronic vote (n=36);
• Support to get to the polling station (n=23);
• Support to find the location of the polling station (n=17);
• The option to vote alone out of the voting hall, within an accessible space within the voting premises (n=15);
• Support to insert my vote in the ballot box (n=14);
• Support to find my voting desk (n=13);
• Support to take with me my ID (e.g. citizen card) (n=11).

Testimony on accessibility of the polling station
“Pay attention when choosing the locations of the polling stations, whether they are accessible for all, with ramps.”

Man, 44, superior education

 In total, 32% (n=98) of the participants with disabilities could not exercise their voting right. However, there were two different situations: on one hand, those who did not try to vote which represent a 25.7% (n=79) of the participants, and, on the other hand, the persons who did try to vote but were impeded to do so, who represent 6.2% (n=19) of the participants.

The reasons given to not exercise their voting right were the following:

• Not voting was my decision (n=46)
• I did not have transport means to get to the poll station (n=14)
• I had difficulties understanding where I had to fill in the ballot (n=11)
• I need help to vote and I did not know I could vote with support (n=10)
• My poll station was not accesible (n=9)
• I did not know that there were elections for the European Parliament (n=8)
• The electronic voting system was not accesible for my type of impairment (n=4)
• I asked to vote with support, but it was not permitted (n=4)
• I did not know I could vote before election date from hospital or prison (n=3)
• I did not know I could to vote with the support of the braille matrix (n=2)
• They told me I cannot vote (n=1)

Testimony on the impossibility to vote with support/accompanied by somebody
“The process to get a certificate to be allowed to vote with support/accompanied. I tried to vote but the President of desk ay the polling station considered that I did not look like I needed help, despite of having cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis, and a disability certificate of 95%, and using a wheelchair. Even though my hand is always trembling. I must be a great actor, to fake such grave problems. I will never be humilliated again, I won’t ever go again.”

Man, 60, superior education

Testimony on the need to formalise complaints before the relevant authorities
“The poll stations must be effectively accesible so that we are not dependent on third parties to get over steps or to move around the place. (…) Official complaint forms must be available so that the relevant authorities receive them and give feedback to the complainant, instead of giving out a white piece of paper which ends up in the municipality’s archive.”

Man, 30, secondary education

• Make access to the electronic vote available to all citizens in the entire country;
• Make transport means available to ensure participation of persons with disabilities, especially those with reduced mobility, to ensure that they get to their voting section;
• Ensure that specific support is available at the polling stations so that persons with disabilities can effectively exercise their voting rights, overcoming eventual arquitectural barriers;

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