CIL Sofia and the parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, 2013

Actions prior to and during the elections: Survey Preparing materials for disabled people Preparing materials for campaigners Inviting political parties’ representatives to meeting with CIL members Forming civil coalition for monitoring the election process

The Survey Prepared by CIL members Distributed in the social networks, blogs, websites Investigated 2 areas: -attitudes towards the election process -access to information

Survey results People are willing to give their vote

Not satisfied with politicians’ work in the disability sphere - 50% say they don’t work! - dissatisfaction with environment and transport accessibility Not satisfied with politicians’ work in the disability sphere - 50% say they don’t work! - dissatisfaction with environment and transport accessibility

- The same with education, occupation, PA service and technical aids

- Big problem – fake votes! PWD – vulnerable group  precondition for misuse (= people sell their votes)

Survey’s 2 nd part – about information on campaigns’ accessibility and usefulness People with visual and hearing disabilities – again discriminated

Next measure – meeting politicians Too few responded Mistake – we invited them. We had to approach them!

Mobile polling stations Not enough information provided Potential misuse

Civil coalition for monitoring the elections Different NGOs gathered with the aims to: -initiate a dialogue with the political parties - engage the media with issues concerning PWD and the election process -partnership with international observing organisations -ensure independent civil monitoring of the election process CIL Sofia participated with observers on the election day throughout the country.

Preparing materials for campaigners Guidelines for making meetings with disabled voters accessible -exterior environment accessibility (parking, entrance) -Interior environment accessibility (doors, floor, signs, toilets, seats, hall’s acoustics, lighting) -Accessible information materials -Communicating with PWD (ask before you help, sit when speaking with a wheelchair user, no need of pity expression!)

Preparing materials for disabled voters Leaflet ‘How to vote’ -check accessibility of polling station -info about required documentation -info about voting with a PA -how to report abuse

To recap: Start planning on time Don’t leave the initiative to come from politicians’ side. You need to be insistent! Involve disabled peers into the whole process (materials preparation, meetings with politicians, election observers) Make a survey and collect as much data as possible Try to grab media’s attention Inform PWD about their rights and about the election process (use the social media!) Inform campaigners about PWD’s issues and how they should make the elections and their campaign accessible Search for partner organisations and together monitor the campaign and election processes Encourage PWD to be use their civil right to vote Learn from our mistakes and do better work! Looking forward to your feedback ;-)

GOOD LUCK!!!