Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Woman casting her vote at an Amsterdam polling station, 21 March 2018
Woman casting her vote at an Amsterdam polling station, 21 March 2018 - Credit: Photo: Zachary Newmark / NL Times
Politics
polling station
voting booth
voting hotline
Netherlands Institute for Human Rights
disability
right to vote
Kajsa Ollongren
Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations
Friday, 17 May 2019 - 08:50
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Voting still too difficult for people with disabilities

People with disabilities in the Netherlands still experience difficulties when going to cast their votes. After the Provincial States elections the voting hotline of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights received 188 reports about the accessibility of polling stations, compared to 148 reports after the municipal elections in 2018, NOS reports.

Ten percent of the reports were positive. They came from voters with disabilities who called the hotline to say they could easily cast their vote without problems. Most of the complaints were related to assistance in the voting booth and the accessibility of polling stations.

28 percent of complaints regarded help in the voting booth, especially for blind people and people with poor eyesight. They are allowed to be helped when casting their vote, but not all polling station employees knew that. Sometimes aid givers were sent away by polling station officials, which resulted in visually impaired people being unable to vote.

Many reports were also about the accessibility of the poling station or voting booth. People with a wheelchair or mobility scooter, for example, struggled with thresholds, revolving doors, heavy doors or steep ramps, due to which they could not enter the polling station. Sometimes the voting booth was too small, the writing board too high, or the chain on the pencil too short. There were also complaints about the ballot paper being too large, difficult to read or difficult to fold.

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights already sent a letter to Minister Kasja Ollongren of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations about providing better training for polling station staff. And the Minister already said that new ballot papers will be issued in two years.

The voting hotline will also be open after the European elections on May 23rd.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Dutch Grand Prix wants to be more sustainable, will ban cars where possible
  • Repairs begin at storm damaged football stadium in The Hague; Roof section ripped off
  • Teen boy, 15, accused of choking four students during knockout challenge
  • Netherlands extradites Russian crypto money laundering suspect to U.S.
  • Efforts to block asylum center thwarted as government closes purchase of Albergen hotel
  • Netherlands needs 10,000 new starter homes per year, says homeowners group

Top stories

  • Rhine falls to record low water level at Dutch entry point; Measures readied for waterways
  • Bullying, emotional abuse was common in elite Dutch triathlon training program: Report
  • Residents protesting asylum center want to buy the hotel intended for asylum seekers
  • Single average Dutch people have nearly no chance of buying a home: Mortgage advisor
  • NS workers announce relay-strikes starting next week
  • Dutch economy recorded strong growth in second quarter despite inflation

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content