Press Release
25 October 2002
OSCE

Blind voters make use of pilot project in Kosovo

PRISTINA, 25 October 2002 - On Election Day, the OSCE is conducting a pilot project for voters with visual impairments. The project, which takes place in Pejë/Pec, involves a special template that enables these voters to mark their ballots without assistance - and in secrecy like any other voter.

The first voters participating in the project are expected to cast their ballots at around 11:00 hrs at the "Asdreni" Primary School in Pejë/Pec town.

The political entities running in Pejë/Pec are written on the template in Braille (the special alphabet with "dots"). These voters can find the political entity they want to vote for by counting the openings on the template through which the ballot has to be marked.

Twelve individuals, all registered as voters in the municipality of Pejë/Pec, have volunteered to participate in the project. All voters have been trained in using the template. In the polling station, the voters can also listen to audio instructions reminding them how to use the template.

A number of organisations and specialists have assisted the OSCE in the project, including the Union for Visually Impaired People in Pejë/Pec, the Special School for Pupils with Visual Impairments "Dr. Xeladin Deda" and Mr. Halit Ferizi from the NGO HANDIKOS.

Press interested in viewing the voting process at polling centres in Pejë/Pec on Election Day, 26 October are to contact Project Co-ordinator, Shqipe Hebibi (044 160 887) or Project Leader Soren Stein (044 160 840) who will direct you to the polling centres where the voting process will take place.

It is important that journalists and photographers do not interfere with the polling process or disturb the voters as they proceed through the polling station.

Voters in other parts of the world use similar templates. The project in Kosovo is timely as electoral rights of disabled individuals are increasingly placed on the agenda.

 

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For further information, please contact:
Poul Smidt
Spokesperson
Press and Public Information Section
OSCE Mission in Kosovo
Belgrade street 32
38000, Pristina
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
GMT +1
Tel.: +381 38 500 162 x 260
+377 44 500 150 (mobile)
Fax: +381 38 500 188
E-mail: press@omik.org

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