GHANA ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND
TACTILE BALLOT GUIDE SYSTEM

POST ELECTION SEMINAR REPORT - AUGUST, 2002

INTRODUCTION
The Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB) with support from IFES, Washington and Action on Disability and Development (ADD) Ghana piloted the use of a tactile ballot guide in thirteen (13) districts to enable blind/partially sighted persons vote independently and secretly.

The ballot guide was tested during the district level elections held in the country in August 2002.

The seminar therefore provided an opportunity for stakeholders to assess the strengths and weaknesses identified and to plan the way forward.

SESSIONS
Two (2) seminars were held to cover all districts in the Southern and Northern sectors.

Southern Sector - 8th August 2002
Northern Sector - 16th August 2002

PARTICIPATING DISTRICTS
In view of the postponement of the elections in the Eastern region, it became imperative that officials from pilot districts in the Eastern Region join their counterparts from the Northern Sector for the review. For security reasons, pilot districts in the Northern Region had their elections suspended indefinitely because of ethnic problems there.

REVIEW TEAM
The post election review teams were made up of GAB Election Monitors, District Electoral officers from the pilot districts as well as Officers from IFES, ADD, GFD, GAB and the Electoral Commission.

PRESENTATION OF FIELD REPORTS
GAB Election Monitors and District Electoral Officers from the pilot districts were given the opportunity to present their observations with reference to accessibility of polling Stations, Co-operation from polling officials, turnout, and the availability of ballot guide folders among others. (See detailed statistics below)

ACCESSIBILITY
It was noted that 136 out of 158 polling Stations visited were accessible to persons with disabilities whilst 21 were not.

III. CONTROL OF POLLING STATIONS

Presiding Officers were generally found to be in control of polling stations and aware of the Tactile Ballot guide. In a few cases some presiding officers had the Tactile Ballot guide with other election materials but neither knew about it nor its use.

IV. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TACTILE BALLOT GUIDE

In view of some problems with the entire electoral process, it was noted that some blind people could not use the guide, as they were not available. Generally it was successful considering the complex nature of the local level elections.

In the Eastern region, however, the guide was available in all the centers.

It is worth mentioning that almost 53% of blind people who voted were aware of the Tactile Ballot Guide. One (1) blind voter who narrated his experience attested to this. He described the system as very simple, effective and convenient.

However, a number of blind voters in Accra/Kumasi Metropolis were unable to vote wit the system, because of non-availability of the guide.

It was also noted that co-operation between polling staff and blind voters were generally encouraging.

WEAKNESSES

The exercise was found to be not without problems.
Among the weaknesses identified were:

Late arrival of folders to the districts from the Electoral Commission;

Lack of training for Presiding Officers and Polling Assistants who are temporary officers of the Tactile Ballot Guide System.

Peculiar problems with the folder such as;

Wrong placement of tactile guide folders at respective polling stations.

Space for thumbprint not being large enough and therefore likely to expose the choice of the blind voter.

Some of the folders had Braille dots not bold enough for easy identification.

Differences in size of papers because of different printers

STRENGTHS

- It was noted among others that the basic design of the Tactile Ballot Guide was appropriate

- Healthy co-operation from Electoral Commission Officials and polling station staff.

- Production of ballot papers for pilot district did not attract any additional cost.

- High Commitment from the Electoral Commission and other stakeholders.

THE WAY FORWARD

The exercise was found to be useful and worth strengthening for the 2004 Presidential/ Parliamentary Election. It was therefore suggested that;

1. Electoral Commission assigns a desk officer to be responsible for highlighting the needs of disabled voters for integration by the commission.

2. It was however agreed that Electoral Commission commits its staff to include this activity as part of their routine training schedule.

3. Education/Awareness Creations on the Tactile Ballot Guide system has to be intensified among the blind population in particular and the public in general.

4. Stakeholders to begin a vigorous voter education programme to sensitize disabled eligible voters to show interest in the electoral process

5. The formation of a steering committee to design a strategy to address the weaknesses identified.

6. All collaborating agencies should know their specific roles and play them
appropriately.

7. Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) to appoint a Desk Officer to be responsible for Disabled voters.

8. Voter Education - Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD)
National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE)
Organizations of People with Disabilities (OPWDs)
Tactile Ballot - Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB)
Hearing Problems- Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD)
Accessibility -Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD)

9. The involvement of political parties should be considered as a necessary pre-requisite for the success of the programme.

10. Ballot Papers should go simultaneously with Tactile Guide Folders.

CONCLUSION

It can be said that the seminar was very useful as it provided ideas as to how the system could be improved.

It can only be hoped that all stakeholders will keep their interests and commitment high for the development of future programme systems.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

GAB wishes to express its gratitude to IFES and ADD for sponsoring the whole project.

We also commend the Electoral Commission and all the collaborating agencies that made the tactile pilot-testing programme successful.