Bulgaria

1. THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND BE ELECTED.

  1. Do visually impaired (hereafter VI) people suffer any restrictions to their rights to vote and/or to be elected? If yes, give details.
    No
  2. During election campaigns what measures are taken to ensure that VI people are ensured full autonomy concerning the availability of information distributed by candidates, access to pre-electoral meetings, access to different campaign media?
    Braille printed information, some candidates have accessible sites, radio and TV campaigns.
  3. Are special measures put in place to ensure that polling stations are accessible to VI people?
    For people with disabilities the polling stations are situated at ground floor in order to provide access. Some of municipalities and communes provide transportation for disabled persons if they announce their needs in advance.
  4. Within polling stations, what measures are taken to ensure that VI people can exercise their rights in an autonomous and confidential manner?
    After submission of the decision of a medical expert to the election committee, the VI person can name somebody for his guide to help him to vote.
  5. In the case of proportional elections (by lists of candidates), what measures are taken to ensure that VI people can exercise their rights in an autonomous and confidential manner?
    N/A
  6. Are their measures in place to assist VI people in the polling booths and when casting their vote in the urns?
    see p.1.iv. and also the staff in polling stations pass a special briefing  in order to know the rights of people with impairments and how to help them
  7. Are voting machines in place in your country? If yes, please detail how these are made accessible to VI people.
    No

2. PARTICIPATION IN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE PUBLIC AND POLITICAL LIFE OF THE COUNTRY, AND IN THE ACTIVITIES AND ADMINISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

  1. Can VI people in your country participate in an unrestricted manner in political parties, unions, public and political organisations and associations?
    Yes
  2. Are their VI people in who have been elected to political, trade-union or associative office in your country?
    Yes
  3. Do VI people in your country have unrestricted access to administrative office, including at top-level?
    Yes

3. FORMING AND JOINING ORGANISATIONS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

  1. Please give an overview of the number/type of associations or organisations representing VI people in your country.
    UNION OF THE BLIND IN BULGARIA and NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE IN BULGARIA
  2. What is the role played by these associations in representing VI people?
    Both organizations are recognized by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria as nationally represented organizations and they are members of the National Council for Integration of People with Disabilities - Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria
  3. How are VI people included in associations representing them?
    No reply.

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