Election Participation and Assistive Aids for Persons With Disability During the 2023 General Elections in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

Emem U. Iyoho, Ekong Daniel, Unwana-Abasi S. Udoh & Atairet C. Atairet

Download article picture_as_pdf

Abstract

There has been an outcry over the non-inclusion of persons with disability in Nigeria’s elections due to the unavailability of assistive aids. This study investigated elections and assistive technologies for persons with a disability during the 2023 general elections in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to examine how the provision of voting procedures for hearing-impaired persons enhanced their participation in Akwa Ibom State; to investigate how accessible polling units increased participation of mobility-impaired persons; and to find out how Braille ballots enhanced election participation of visually impaired persons in Akwa Ibom State, during the 2023 general election. The study adopted the social model of disability theory as the theoretical framework. The cross-sectional and descriptive technique were adopted with a population of 1101 registered persons with a disability during the 2023 general elections Akwa Ibom State. Data used in this study was gathered from primary and secondary sources. It was discovered, among others, that the majority of the units had no ramps to support mobility as well as inaccessible polling booths for voting convenience for mobility-impaired persons. Based on these findings, the study recommended that the INEC should ensure that in addition to the voting procedures, each polling station must have trained sign language interpreters to assist hearing impaired persons.

Authors

Department of Public Administration
Faculty of Management Sciences
Akwa Ibom State University

Read more