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Inclusive Electoral Literacy in US Introduction The rights of the voters with disabilities are duly protected under the Legislative provisions of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Electoral Assistance Commissions has taken several initiatives in the light of said legal provisions to provide equal opportunity to the voters with disabilities in the matters of awareness, voter education and their engagement in the electoral process. More than 35 million Americans with disabilities are eligible to vote. The US Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has a strong operational system backed by the legislation, infrastructure and technology to support and facilitate such PwD’s and commitment to ensure that the election process, polling places and voting services are accessible for such voters. Legislative Provisions under HAVA and ADA Section 241 of HAVA provides that the EAC shall, inter alia, conduct studies on studies on election administration issues to the ‘Methods of ensuring the accessibility of voting, registration, polling places, and voting equipment to all voters, including individuals with disabilities (including the blind and visually impaired), Native American or Alaska Native citizens, and voters with limited proficiency in the English language.’ The studies are made available to the public and are aimed at promoting effective administration of federal elections. The studies are used to develop a framework most convenient, accessible, and easy to use for voters, including members of the uniformed services and overseas voters, individuals with disabilities, including the blind and visually impaired, and voters with limited proficiency in the English language; will be nondiscriminatory and afford voters an equal opportunity to vote. The legislative provisions, studies and the framework referred to above also include ‘Methods of educating voters about the process of registering to vote and voting, the operation of voting mechanisms, the location of polling places, and all other aspects of participating in elections. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Help America Vote Act (HAVA) require that all Amer¬icans have the same opportunity to participate in the voting process, privately and independently. Thus law provides equal opportunity to the voters with disabilities besides the voters from the marginalized sections. Voluntary Guidance on Voter Education for Electoral Process The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, in view of the mandate under Section311 of HAVA, has developed and adopted a series of voluntary guidelines for voter education and election management in collaboration with local election officials and consultative process envisaged under Section 311of HAVA. These guidelines provide valuable guidance on best practices in strengthening the voter education programmes besides managing efficient and effective elections. Voter education as such, has a significant impact on voter turnout. Well planned and well designed programmes do motivate and encourage electorate to participate in the electoral process in an enlightened manner and in larger numbers.EAC provides cards for persons with disabilities for easy guidance (See Annex I) EAC’s ‘A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections’ Voter Guides are highly informative and simple to read and cover all aspects of electoral process and available on EAC website. The guide is intended to help voters including those with disabilities or besides those from marginalized section to successfully navigate the Federal election process in a holistic manner from registering to vote through casting a ballot on Election Day. In addition to providing the basics of casting a ballot, this guide includes information on voter eligibility, early voting, alternative registration and voting processes for uniformed and overseas citizens, and polling place accommodation that make voting more accessible to all sections of voters. The voter guide is available in eleven languages: Cherokee, Chinese, Dakota, English, Japanese, Korean, Navajo, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Yupik so as to maximize the voter coverage from all sections of the society.. The Guides provide relevant links for helpful resources to voters on all matters relating to election process.. EAC Voter Guides are made available in the Election Resource Library of the EAC on its website. Relevant extract from Voter’s Guide relating to Voters with disability is given below: “IS VOTING ACCESSIBLE FOR VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES? Most polling places are designed with accommodations to make the voting process more accessible to all voters, including those voters with disabilities. Accessibility accommodations include clearly marked parking spaces, entrances with ramps, and well-marked routes and signage indicating the way to voting locations. Polling places must have voting equipment that is accessible for individuals with disabilities, including non visual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters. If you have questions about the accessibility of your polling place, or if you need information about voting equipment for individuals with disabilities, contact your State or local election office. (See list of Available Resources at the end of this guide.)” Accessible Voting Technology Initiative The EAC’s Accessible Voting Technology Initiative (AVTI) supports accessibility research on transformative technologies and approaches. Through the AVTI, the EAC has produced over 45 solutions for assisting voters with disabilities. The initiatives include the EAC’s Military Heroes grant to provide assistance needed for recently injured military personnel to participate in elections. EAC Voter Resources One of EAC’s primary mandates under the Help America Vote Act is to serve as a central resource for information about elections. Through EAC’s national clearinghouse, the public including persons with disabilities can conveniently access information on registering to vote and serving as a poll worker along with studies on how, where and when to vote. EAC maintains the National Mail Voter Registration Form (in seven languages), which can be used in any state to register to vote and update their registration information for a federal election. EAC also provides information on contact information for the state election offices. Resources for Voters may be listed as follows Register and Vote in Your State. National Mail Voter Registration Form Become a Poll Worker Overseas and Military Voters Voting Accessibility Election Calendar Election Resource Library Helpful Links Voter Guides Social Media Sites of Election offices The Electoral College Resources for Voters with Disabilities This comprehensive list of resources for voters with disabilities includes links to voting accessibility laws and regulations and the latest best practices and research pertaining to voters with disabilities and elderly voters. EAC’s Resources: Quick Start Series EAC’s ‘6 Tips for Making Voting Accessible’ The EAC has collaborated with local election officials to develop a series of helpful tips for voter education and election management. This series provides ideas and suggests best practices to help run efficient and effective elections. See Annex II) EAC’s ‘10 Tips for Voters with Disabilities’ Before you vote in the next election, know the voting process in your State. The following tips from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission examine the options available to help voters with disabilities vote privately and independently. These tips and examples can help to make voting accessible to everyone including inter alia the voters with a disability. (See Annex III) Voting Accessibility EAC Commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by hearing ‘How to Make Voting More Accessible for Individuals with Disabilities’ The event was intended to explore ways to make voting more accessible for individuals with disabilities. Commissioners heard testimony from accessibility advocates, experts, and individuals with disabilities regarding the progress made to ensure HAVA’s requirement that individuals with disabilities be given the same opportunity to vote freely and independently as other voters Commissioners met July 28, 2015 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of ADA and explore ways to make voting more accessible for individuals with disabilities. Commissioners heard testimony from accessibility advocates, experts, and individuals with disabilities regarding the progress made to ensure HAVA’s requirement that individuals with disabilities be given the same opportunity to vote freely and independently as other voters. Partnerships with non-partisans HAVA provides for partnerships with non-partisans for electoral assistance to PwD’s and marginalized sections of society.

Election Commission of India organised an international conference on ‘Voter Education for Inclusive, Informed and Ethical Participation’ from 19th to 21st October 2016 in New Delhi.

New Zealand: Inclusive Voter Education, Disability Strategy and Initiatives for PwD’s Introduction All the New Zealand citizens have right to have their voice heard and as such, equal access to enrollment and voting at elections. In this context, the Electoral Commission of New Zealand provides efficient and effective electoral assistance in terms of enrollment and voting to persons with disabilities, aboriginals, other categories requiring voter assistance besides women. The initiatives of EC NZ are supported by the provisions of the Elections Act 1993 and the rules made under this Act. Access 2020 Disability Strategy EC NZ has developed Access 2020 strategy taking into account the improvements made during last three elections and integrating them into a long time framework. Through this process, the Commission aims to identify and remove the barriers that the PwD’s face at the time of enrollment and exercising their right to vote. The focus of the disability strategy of EC NZ is to support persons with disabilities and their families ‘whanau and caregivers’ for participation in electoral process. Initiatives of EC NZ EC NZ continued all of its initiatives from the 2011 general election through 2014. Main initiatives include the following: information in accessible formats including Braille, large-print, audio format and screen reader files information and consultation opportunities in New Zealand Sign Language DVD resource kits and facilitation guides for voters with an intellectual disability Plain English resources including posters, booklets and DVDs Special Voters Special Voters Defined under the Law As provided under the electoral legislation of New Zealand, a person who is otherwise qualified to vote may vote as a special voter under inter alia the following conditions: A person intends to be absent or is actually absent from the district on the day of polling; a person who intends to be outside or is actually outside New Zealand on the polling day; a person is unable to attend to vote at any polling place in the district by reason of illness, infirmity, pregnancy, or recent childbirth; a person is unable to vote on the polling day by reason of a religious objection; a person satisfies the Returning Officer or the issuing officer that on any other ground it will not be practicable for him to vote at a polling place in the district without incurring hardship or serious inconvenience. Special vote can be cast only as per prescribed procedure under the law. Blind, Disabled or Illiterate Voters An elector who is wholly or partially blind or whether because of physical handicap or otherwise, unable to write or has severe difficulty in reading or writing, or is not sufficiently familiar with the English language to vote without assistance, can vote as per prescribed procedure under the Election laws of New Zealand. The law elaborates the procedure as well as the nature of assistance that may be provided to such voters. Provision of Telephone Dictation to Blind Voters EC NZ delivered telephone dictation voting to voters who are blind or visually impaired or have another disability with the result that they are unable to vote independently and in secret at the 2014 General Election. Enrolling and Voting in Sign Language The election resources of EC NZ provide information and guidance for enrolling and voting in New Zealand sign language for voters who require this assistance. Hospital Votes The electoral regulations define ‘Hospital Votes’ and provide for electoral assistance to a person who is a patient in any hospital, maternity home etc. Such persons have to apply for a special vote and the assistance is provided as per prescribed procedure to such applicants. Details of the Access 2020 disability strategy and other disability resources of the Electoral Commission, New Zealand can be accessed at its website for voter information, awareness and educative purposes

Libya: ‘Zaykum Zayna’ In 2013, an Electoral Access Working Group, that included members of the Libyan General National Congress, disabled persons’ organizations, disability rights activists, and civil society members, was formed in Libya. Together, Working Group members launched a successful social media campaign called Zaykum Zayna (“As you are, we are”) to promote awareness of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Libya, emphasizing the right to political participation for men and women with disabilities. The Zaykum Zayna campaign helped in development of voter education resources in braille and the provision of sign language interpreters for all press conferences hosted by the High National Election Commission. A collection of advocacy tools and information about trainings was also developed through the campaign.

Elections Canada: Accessibility Policy and Service Offering for Persons with Disabilities Introduction Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports directly to the Parliament of Canada. EC’s important responsibilities include conducting federal elections, by-elections and referendums. EC’s long-term vision envisages accessibility to be an ongoing process to provide inclusive, universal and flexible services that benefit everyone and in the recent years they have specially focused on reducing barriers for people with disabilities. Policy for People with Disabilities EC developed the current policy for People with Disabilities (PwD’s) in February 2015 in consultation with EC’s Advisory Group for Disability Issues. EC launched this Advisory Group in 2014 to fulfill its commitment to ongoing consultations with groups that represent people with disabilities. An early outcome of this consultation came in February 2015, with the development of an Accessibility Policy and Service Offering. Accessibility EC is committed to inclusive, universal and varied services that respond to the needs of all electors. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to vote in federal elections in Canada. The Canada Elections Act provides for a variety of voting methods and allows the Chief Electoral Officer to advertise the services it offers for assisting voters with disabilities. EC has worked to remove the obstacles voters may encounter by making continual improvements to the electoral process, including communications and administrative processes. To ensure accessibility, the voting process includes the following features: Flexible voting methods: voting by mail or at a local Elections Canada office; advance voting days; mobile polls serving facilities for seniors or persons with physical disabilities; and, in special cases, voting at home in the presence of an election officer and a witness. As much as possible, level access to local Elections Canada offices, polling stations and other premises used during an election. In the event that a polling station does not have level access, provision of a transfer certificate on request and permission to vote at another location. If requested in advance, sign language interpreters to assist electors at the polls. The ability to have an election officer, a friend or a relative to assist an elector with a disability in marking his or her ballot at the poll. Voting screens that admit plenty of light, lighted magnifiers to make the ballot easier to read, Braille and large-print lists of candidates on Election Day and tactile and Braille templates that fit on top of a ballot. Requisite training to election officers and community relations officers for meeting the accessibility needs of people with varied disabilities. Policy, a Living Document EC intends to continue working with the disability community to better understand accessibility issues and reduce barriers. Accessibility policy and Service Offering document has a specific focus on the tools and services that people with disabilities can expect when they vote. This document is intended as a "living" document to be updated following the next general election in light of accessibility best practices, evaluations and as new opportunities for improvements arise. Among other things, the policy describes the mechanism for feedback, complaints and inquiries from individuals concerning accessibility. Elections Canada welcomes any input that will help it to better serve PwD’s. Questions or feedback on this policy may be provided to EC online at 1-800-463-6868. EC’s Commitment EC is committed to building upon the accessible electoral framework that Canadians trust and use, to be responsive to the needs of Canadians of all abilities, to working to accommodate voters and employees with disabilities, to make the voting experience as accessible as possible and to engage people with disabilities about the services that affect them. In this context, EC is committed to adopting the following principles: Design for choice and flexibility by thinking inclusively. Educate and inform Canadians using plain language. Provide Canadians with modern and convenient ways to access information, register and vote. Improve the voting experience and make it easier to participate by removing barriers. Support the independence, and respect the dignity, of people with disabilities. Accessibility Initiatives Elections Canada works on a continued basis to remove the obstacles voters may encounter by making improvements to the electoral process, including communication and administrative processes. Since the last general election in 2011, EC has implemented a series of measures to improve the accessibility of the electoral process. These include: Enhanced and expanded cross-disability training for both election workers and Elections Canada staff. Increased investment in community outreach for people with disabilities. Improved signage and voting screens at polling places. New voting tools such as magnifiers and Braille lists of candidates. A polling place accessibility review process that follows a new checklist of 35 accessibility criteria. Improvements to website accessibility ( see Link for details). A revamped communications campaign that presents information in plain language and in accessible formats. Greater consultation and outreach programs to share information. EC works with national and provincial organizations and, through their networks, gain an additional way to reach people with disabilities. Informed by Consultation and Research Elections Canada's ongoing accessibility initiatives build upon research and consultation undertaken since the last general election in 2011. In 2011–2012, Elections Canada met with 19 national and provincial disability organizations across Canada. The goal of this exercise was to build better relationships with the disability community and gain a better understanding of its needs and the barriers that people face. In 2014, Elections Canada launched its first ever Advisory Group for Disability Issues. The Voting Experience – Tools and Services at Polling Places Polling Places In consultation with experts and the disability community EC has developed accessibility criteria for polling stations. The returning officers use Accessibility Checklist to evaluate the accessibility of potential sites prior to the election. This checklist contains 35 criteria, 15 of which are mandatory. After an election is called, EC sends out a voter information card to all registered voters indicating the accessibility of polling places with the following information, in one of three ways: The site meets 15 accessibility criteria. The accessibility symbol is displayed, along with where to find more information. The site is wheelchair accessible. The accessibility symbol is displayed, along with the phone number that you can call for help. The site has no wheelchair access. The accessibility symbol is not displayed, but voters are encouraged to call their returning office for alternate location. Voter Information Service also provides complete details of accessibility to the concerned voters. EC’s help lines also provide guidance. Tools and Services EC provides a variety of tools and services for PwD’s: Magnifiers with light (4x) A tactile and Braille voting template that fits on top of a ballot Large-print lists of candidates Braille lists of candidates (available on election day only) Language or sign language interpretation (to be requested in advance) Assistance in marking a ballot Improved voting screens that let in more light Information through video if required. Language or Sign language interpretation If a voter requires language or sign-language interpretation on Election Day, he may request Elections Canada to provide the service as per time prescribed. Online service through TTY is also made available Service Animals Elections Canada supports the use of service animals to assist voters with disabilities when they go vote at polling places. Election workers are fully aware that service animals are working animals and should not be distracted, spoken to or offered food. Assistance from Others Voters with disabilities may require the assistance of a support person to help them vote. Support people provide assistance to a person with a disability and may be a family member, friend, personal support worker, intervener or sign-language interpreter. The support person will be required to take an oath to respect the secrecy of the voter's choice. A deputy returning officer can also help a voter mark the ballot. This will always be done in full view of a poll clerk. Assistive Devices Voters with disabilities, in particular people with a visual impairment, may use a personal mobile device, such as a smart phone, to read their ballot behind the voting screen. All reasonable steps should be taken to preserve the secrecy of the vote. Community Relations Officers for Accessibility The Community Relations Officer program was created to reduce barriers to voting faced by certain groups of voters. Officers provide information on when, where and ways to register and vote as well as the tools and services available to voters. EC has added community relations officers for accessibility across Canada to engage voters with disabilities and local organizations, and to serve as a resource to the returning officer. Additionally, information on accessibility has been included in a new communications booklet and toolkit provided to all community relations officers. Training for Election Workers The training program takes into consideration the time constraints associated with training electoral officers and incorporates in-class and online training. Our online training modules, including videos, are fully accessible and have been tested by people with disabilities. Elections Canada's accessibility training: Makes election workers aware of accessibility tools at the polling place. Provides tips on how to maintain these accessibility features. Makes election workers aware of various tools available to voters, and Educates them on how to approach a voter who may require assistance. EC’s Website The Elections Canada website is compliant with the federal standard on web accessibility, which follows World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) accessibility guidelines (version 2, level AA). EC is always working to improve the website's accessibility.

The Disabled Center for Development of Education and Culture (PAROS) led a coalition of 9 disability organizations to implement a project supported by IFES designed to empower Armenians with disabilities to participate in the 2007 and 2008 elections for the National Assembly (parliament) and Presidency. The national program on disability awareness and enfranchisement made the elections amongst the most accessible and inclusive in the history of Armenia. PAROS led the development of an informational campaign to raise awareness on the equal rights of Armenians with disabilities, including political and electoral rights. A series of televised public service announcements were aired nationally and Armenian journalists provided positive media attention on project activities (such as the development of a tactile ballot guide). An increased awareness of disability rights was complemented by strong support from the Armenian government and endorsements by high-ranking elected officials and election candidates.

Access of persons with disabilities to the electoral process in the Republic of Moldova: achievements and perspectives General information The number of stable population in the Republic of Moldova is around 3 557,6 thousand persons. According to the State Register of Voters, a number of 3.2 million citizens with the right to vote are registered. According to the data of the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection, and Family, the total number of the persons with disabilities accounts for 183 415 persons, representing about 5.2% of the total population. Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova pays a special attention to enhance the accessibility of the electoral process for the persons with disabilities. This represents one of the main objectives of the institution, also established in its Strategic Plan for 2016-2019. The voters with special needs were not subject to international observation. The monitoring reports of the biggest observer’s mission, OSCE/ODIHR reveal that the following categories of voters were most frequently under focus: the ones residing abroad, ethnical minorities, voters from the separatist region of Transnistria, and women. The participation of persons with disabilities in voting has represented a topic of observation for one national nongovernmental organization, during the Parliamentary elections in 2009, 2014 and the local elections in 2011. The mass-media monitoring reports during the electoral campaigns also do not reflect to what extent the persons with hearing and visual disabilities had access to the information about the candidates or about their electoral platforms. More than a half of the polling stations are opened in public buildings. According to the data revealed by the Ombudsman reports, about 46% of the public buildings (premises of public institutions and authorities, law enforcement bodies, courts, etc.), complied to a certain extent with the accessibility conditions set for persons with mobility disabilities. Starting with 2015, Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and the Center for Continuous Electoral Training under the CEC, have assessed the accessibility of the polling stations established in the country through the interview method and questionnaires addressed to the polling stations officers. Only 15% of them met the technical access conditions for the persons in wheelchairs. Characteristics of the electoral system in the Republic of Moldova The citizens elect via direct vote: the Parliament, local public administration and the President of the Republic. The voting right is held by the citizens who have turned 18 years old, except for those who have been deprived of the respective right. One single restriction is set for the exercised of the right to elect and to be elected – the persons whose incapability has been recognized by a final court decision. This provision refers to the persons who “as a result of a mental disorder (mental disease or mental deficiency) cannot be aware of or manage their actions” (Civil Code, art. 24). This category of citizens also covers the persons with psycho-social disabilities. Currently, a draft law initiated by the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family to abolish the respective restriction undergoes the legislative process of the Parliament. The given draft was positively endorsed by the Central Election Commission. The Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova regulates 3 voting possibilities: ordinary voting – according to the general procedures (art.53, par. 1). assisted voting (art. 54, par. 1) - provided when the “Voter cannot fill in all by himself/herself the voting ballot and is entitled to invite in the voting booth another person, except for the members of the precinct electoral bureau, representatives of the electoral candidates and of the persons authorized to assist the electoral operations. These cases shall be registered separately in the report of the precinct electoral bureau”. The assisted voting may be considered both, in case of persons with different disabilities, as well as in case of other persons (e.g. illiterate persons, persons with reading deficiencies). voting at the place of stay(with the mobile ballot box) (art. 55 par.4) - if due to health reasons or any other well-grounded reasons, the voter cannot come to the voting premises, the precinct electoral bureau shall appoint, upon the voter’s written request, at least 2 members of the bureau who will go with a mobile voting box and the necessary material for voting to the place where the voter stays, for him/her to vote. The requests may be lodged in written form, starting with 2 weeks before the voting day till 18.00 o’clock of the day preceding Election Day. During the Election Day, the requests may be lodged in written form till 15.00 o’clock, if a medical certificate is presented. These persons vote according to the voters’ list for voting at the place of stay, compiled by the precinct electoral bureau based on such voters’ requests, and the persons who are not included in such a list cannot vote at the place of stay. In the voters’ list, the note “voted at the place of stay” is mentioned in the row with the name of the respective person. These provisions may be also applied in case of the persons with disabilities. Legislative safeguards The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed by the Republic of Moldova on March 30, 2007 and ratified by the Parliament on July 9, 2010. For the purpose of implementing the UN Convention, the Parliament has adopted the Law No. 60 dated 30.03.2012 on Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, guaranteeing a number of rights to participate in public life and provides for: the right to adequate, accessible and easily understood and used voting procedures and materials (implementation of alternative voting modalities), the right to free opinion about political parties and their candidates, including by organization of electoral debates and radio/TV shows in mimic-gesture language, printing out electoral materials using the writing systems used by the persons with visual deficiency, and by using other information tools accessible for persons with disabilities. The Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova, that regulates the organization of all types of elections and referendum, sets forth that the premises of the polling stations should be established, as a rule, in public buildings and shall be equipped so as to facilitate the access of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. The task to endow the respective premises with everything that is necessary is held by the local public authorities. CEC has only the role of developing the regulatory framework for uniform enforcement of the legislation in the area. Hence, via one of its decisions, the CEC provided for the polling premises to be established only at the first floor of building, in more accessible places. Also, the Commission has approved and adjusted its own normative acts. Before the parliamentary elections from 2014, the CEC has approved an Instruction regarding the infrastructure of the polling station. This document sets forth the conditions to be met by the premises of the polling stations for conducting the voting process in good conditions. Thus, based on CEC’s request, the local public authorities (LPA) have organized the polling stations at the first floor of buildings so as to facilitate the access of persons with special needs. In April 2015, before local elections, CEC has amended the Regulation on the electoral campaign media coverage that established recommendation for all electoral subjects to ensure accessibility of disseminated information to people with special needs by all available means - subtitles, sign language language etc. In 2015 CEC also adopted the Declaration on the accessibility of the electoral process for disabled persons that later was transformed into the Regulation on the accessibility of the electoral process for people with disabilities (26/01/2016). According to this documents the Commission has taken the obligation to broadcast informative spots with the translation in sign language, to equip polling stations with informative and illustrative materials with enlarged font, and to adjust its websites to easily accessible format for the persons with visual impairments. The Precinct Electoral Bureaus were given the task to provide the necessary assistance for persons with disabilities and/or those with special needs. At the same time, the local public authorities were asked to adapt the polling stations, as well as the roads/paths to this polling stations, to the needs of the voters with disabilities. The documents called for political parties, election candidates and media that broadcast the electoral events, to ensure the information of voters with visual and / or hearing impairments by alternative means. Recent achievements of the Central Election Commission CEC cooperates actively with the civil society organizations dealing with promotion of rights and interests of the persons with special needs, so as to identify solutions for ensuring personal exercise of the right to vote. During the parliamentary elections from 2010, CEC tested in a pilot project, a solution for the blind persons to vote without assistance. It included the use of a template-envelope with the help of which the voter identified the preferred electoral candidate. The template-envelope was manufactured of some hard material (carton), having the form and the size of the ballot paper, and having some circles cut in it, which coincided with the circles printed on the ballot paper, within which the voter should apply the stamp “voted” in line with the preferred electoral candidate, according to the rules of the Electoral Code. The ballot paper was introduced in this envelope, the voter was palpating with the fingers the cut holes, afterwards identifying the preferred candidates and applying the stamp “voted”. Hence, the voter did not need any assistance anymore. A polling station was equipped with such a template-envelope, around which persons with visual disabilities live compactly. The project was extended during the Parliamentary Elections in 2014. Starting with General Local Elections of 2015, all the opened polling stations are equipped with special envelopes (2 envelopes per station). They were improved – besides the perforated circles (for the application of voting stamp), it had the order numbers of the candidates in Braille language. The design of the envelop permits the voter to use it independently. Remark: the ballot is organized in a linear form, all the electoral candidates are listed from the top to the bottom in the order of their registration, maintaining the same positions during the entire electoral campaign, except for the cases when they withdraw from campaigning. A new tool meant to facilitate the electoral procedures for the blind persons and persons with poor eyesight was implemented starting in 2011 – the special rulers for identifying the voter in the voters’ list. This ruler contains two cuts, which correspond to the respective fields in the list: name and signature of the voter. This cut helps the blind voter to sign within the quadrangle exactly in line with his/her name in the list. It was for the first time during the 2014 parliamentary elections when CEC has standardized the electoral logistics equipment. Special voting booths (with the size of 50 cm*30cm*150cm) were procured for the persons with mobile disabilities or other persons with special needs. In case of persons with visual disabilities, the voting booths were equipped with additional light source. To facilitate the access of persons with mobile disabilities in the polling station, special ramps were established at the entrance of some polling stations. These premises were selected together with the local public authorities and “Motivation” NGO. For the presidential elections of 2016, CEC has equipped all the polling stations with magnifying glasses, for voting of persons with partial visual impairments. Also, the Commission approved the implementation of the project „Social policies for realization of electoral rights by persons with disabilities” by a group of NGOs. The project provided two opportunities: the first is to offer the persons with visual impairments to vote by using TV closed systems (STVCI) that will be installed in polling stations and the second - to facilitate, by request, the communication process for persons with hearing impairments. STVCI systems were installed in 3 polling stations. The interpreters for persons with hearing impairments were present in 3 polling stations from the capital. For the successful electoral education and information of persons with disabilities about the voting procedures, CEC has developed and printed, in cooperation with NGOs, the Voter’s Guide in Braille language. There was developed the audio version of this guide and a poster which shows the voting procedure. Also we shoot a methodical-didactic film "Direct and Secret Voting of Persons with Disabilities through the Special Envelope" and organized trainings for the voters with special needs All these informative materials are sent via mail to all the territorial organizations of impaired persons from Moldova. As well, trainings. Information campaigns conducted by CEC, namely video spots, are produced with sign language translation and subtitles. Similarly, press briefings and meetings of the CEC from the Elections Day, are assisted by the sign language interpreters. Also, the trainings for the electoral officials from lower electoral bodies, held by the Center for Electoral Training, includes a module dedicated to the insuring of the accessibility of the polling station, including behavior rules of the polling stations officers when they are dealing with persons with disabilities. Inclusion of persons with disabilities in organizing the voting process It was for the first time, during the parliamentary elections on November 30, 2014, when a person with mobile disabilities was included as member of a precinct electoral bureau. CEC organizes information campaigns to encourage the voters with special needs to become future members of electoral bodies. As well, during the parliamentary elections in November 2014, the CEC has accredited 31 national observers from the “Motivation” Association from Moldova, of whom 16 are persons with mobile disabilities and 2 – with heating disabilities. Objectives to be achieved by CEC in the area of inclusion of persons with special needs CEC’s short-term objectives in the area of accessibility to voting: setting a special column in the State Register of Voters dedicated to persons with special needs: this group of persons will be easily identified and thus it will be known to which polling stations to provide special attention. Preparation of an interactive map of the polling station, that will include information on accessibility; involving more persons with disabilities as electoral officials (members of precinct electoral bureaus); completing the normative framework with provisions related to the binding duty to ensure mimic-gesture translation of all informative materials related to electoral topics and of the electoral debates organized at the radio and TV; CEC’s long-term objectives in the area of accessibility to voting: improving continuously the normative acts so as to ensure full accessibility of the polling stations and to facilitate the electoral procedures for the persons with disabilities; developing alternative voting means: remote voting, voting with the help of special equipment for blind persons.