Madrid.The 20th November, the date of the next Spanish general election will be a landmark in the battle to secure rights for the disabled as it will be the first event of its kind at which they will be provided full voting access by law.
Last spring, Parliament passed new legislation which said that the disabled should have to contend with no barriers at all in participation in the electoral process or political life.
The ruling has meant that all voting centres, whether they be schools, libraries, community centres or local council premises will have to provide facilities enabling people who have any mobility difficulties to take their voting slips to the ballot box on their own. The law also means that the disabled have the right to transport from their home to the centre where they are registered to vote. A public service must be available if there are no private means of reaching the ballot box.
Also for the first time at these elections, the deaf are permitted to be part of electoral monitoring committees through the use of sign language.
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