General Right to Vote
Constitution:
• Section 45 states, "The House of Deputies shall be composed of representatives directly elected by the people of the provinces…"

Exclusion Based on Mental Disability
Electoral Law:
(18 August 1983)
• Article 3 states: "Excluded from the polling register are: (a) persons who have been declared insane by law and those who, although they have not been so declared, are confined in state institutions…"

Exclusion Based on Physical Disability
Electoral Law:
(18 August 1983)
• Article 3 states: "Excluded from the polling register are…(b) deaf-mutes who cannot make themselves understood in writing…"

Voter Assistance by Other Citizens
Poll Worker Manuals:
Instruction Guide for Election Authorities published by Ministry of the Interior (1995)
• General advice offered that officials facilitate the voting process for citizens with disabilities. p. 2
Instructions for Poll workers and Poll watchers published by several NGOs and UNDP
• Included in list of people who may vote the "no videntes" (people who cannot see). Explains that in order to receive assistance, they may be escorted by either the President of the polling station or any poll worker into the room where they will vote. Once the poll worker has helped the citizen to determine which ballot represents each candidate, the poll worker may leave so that the voter may maintain the secrecy of his vote. p. 9

Compulsory Vote Excusal
Electoral Law:
(18 August 1983)
• Article 12 states: "Every elector has a duty to vote in the national election taking place in his district. Exempt from this obligation are…(d) persons who are ill or prevented by sufficiently proved force majeure, from attending the act. These grounds must be certified, in the first place by national health service doctors; in their absence, by official, provincial or municipal doctors, an din their absence, by private doctors…"