General Right to Vote
Constitution:
(1991)
Section 31 states, "Every citizen of Sierra Leone being eighteen
years of age and above and of sound mind shall have the right to vote, and accordingly
shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections
and referenda."
Section 36 states, "At any public elections or referenda voting
shall be by secret ballot."
Exclusion Based on Mental
Disability
Constitution:
(1991)
Section 76 states: "No person shall be qualified for election as
a Member of Parliament
(c) if under any law in force in Sierra Leone he
is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind
"
Exclusion Based on Physical
Disability
Constitution:
(1991)
Section 75 states: "Subject to the provisions of section 76, any
person who
(d) is able to speak and to read the English Language with a
degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him to take an active part in the
proceedings of Parliament, shall be qualified for election as such a Member
of Parliament."
Voter Assistance by Other
Citizens
Electoral Law:
(1995: Electoral Provisions Decree)
Section 18, subsection (i) states: "An elector who is unable to
read or who is incapacitated by blindness or any other physical disability and
is unable to cast his vote in the manner prescribed in this Decree, must apply
in person to the Presiding Officer who shall: (i) in the case of an elector
who is physically disabled, allow the elector to be accompanied by another elector
of his own choice, who must guarantee the faithful expression of the vote of
the disabled person and who shall be pledged to absolute secrecy"
Voter Assistance using
Adaptive Techniques
Electoral Law:
(1995: Electoral Provisions Decree)
Section 18, subsection (ii) in the case of an elector who is unable to
read or write and cannot draw a cross, inform the elector that he can vote by
putting a fingerprint mark in the square corresponding to the party for which
he wishes to vote after dipping his finger in the ink which shall be placed
for this purpose in the voting booth."