The Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) has declared last week’s general election a missed opportunity for electoral accessibility, revealing that systemic voting barriers for disabled citizens remain fundamentally unaddressed despite repeated government assurances. According to BCD Operations Manager Roseanna Tudor, while no formal complaints were registered, the election perpetuated longstanding structural deficiencies that particularly disadvantage visually impaired voters and individuals with mobility challenges.
The core issue, Tudor explained, revolves around the violation of ballot secrecy. Visually impaired voters must currently rely on companions to mark their ballots, fundamentally compromising their democratic right to a confidential vote. This arrangement creates a trust dilemma that may deter participation among those who cannot verify their vote was cast as intended.
Tudor emphasized that accessibility solutions cannot be implemented reactively but must be integrated during initial election planning stages. The council has subsequently presented a comprehensive proposal to the Human Rights Commissioner containing four critical recommendations: establishing a formal post-election accessibility review involving disability stakeholders; creating clear accessibility guidelines with measurable standards for polling stations; implementing early consultation protocols with disability organizations before elections; and developing a national mechanism to systematically collect data on disabled voters’ experiences.
Notably, the BCD questioned why early voting facilities currently available to essential services workers aren’t extended to disabled citizens, suggesting this would alleviate election day congestion and accessibility challenges. Tudor stressed the importance of centralized national data collection to properly assess participation barriers rather than relying on fragmented private surveys.
The council expressed appreciation for former minister Kirk Humphrey’s collaborative approach to disability policy development while affirming their commitment to working with new minister Adrian Forde to translate policy advancements into tangible improvements. Additionally, the BCD urged parliamentarians to ensure year-round accessibility of constituency offices, having previously distributed guidance documents on interacting with persons with various disabilities.