INCLUSIVENESS FOR ALL VOTERS
By: Joshua Lafoai
The right to vote is everyone’s unequivocal right.
That’s the driving force fueling the partnership between the Office of the Electoral Commission and Nuanua o le Alofa (NOLA).
In an exclusive interview with the Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio the commissioner happily pointed out that inclusiveness is a priority for the OEC and his office has been reaching out to ensure all members of the public with disabilities and are eligible to vote and are given the chance to exercise that fundamental and constitutional right.
“We’ve worked together with NOLA for a long time now and this year specifically they’ve been very receptive and supportive. We have a target number of 300 persons with disabilities who are eligible to vote, based on the numbers provided by NOLA,” Faimalomatumua said.
“So far, we have about 150. We still have to visit Savaii next week and we already have the contacts and details of those we will be registering there as well,” he added.
In 2016, Samoa signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which ensures that Samoa’s elections are inclusive along with other rights which are afforded to persons with disabilities.
Responding to the OEC’s support, the General Manager of the Nuanua o le Alofa, Mata’afa Fa’atino Utumapu is singing OEC praises noting that voting, is one of those high priorities for people with disabilities.
“Some people think, when you mention accessibility for persons with disabilities you’re talking about a ramp, but it’s more than just the ramp. You’re talking about being able to go there as a person with disabilities, having a voting ballot with brail lettering, or someone with sign language to answer questions when you need help,” she said.
The General Manager of NOLA though says she’s extremely happy with the results so far of the registrations done by OEC.
“This is a much bigger number, or a step up from the last election for persons with disabilities. Being able to register to vote means being given the chance to make your voice heard in your community and that’s much thanks to the OEC for their initiatives to come out to the public and register our people,” she added.
Mata’afa says one of the challenges for persons with disabilities when it comes to voting, is not just getting to the voting booth alone, but being educated on how to vote and having access to information about voting and where they’re voting from and their candidates.
Meanwhile, the OEC continue to uphold the goal of an inclusive General Elections 2021, with their next locations and targets being in the big island of Savaii.
