Hungary

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.
   VI people in Hungary have got their right to vote and they can also be elected for any function. However the voting sheets are not accessible, thus a VI person can tick the name of the nominee to be voted for only with the help of a sighted person.
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?
   In Hungary there are no special general measures to ensure the full autonomy of VI people to get the information distributed by the candidates. It happened two times that one of the political parties sent flyers in Braille format to the NGOs representing VI people. A VI person can participate at pre-electoral meetings with the help of a sighted guide. As to the access to different campaign media VI people can get acquainted with the content of the different IT campaigns by using screen reader software, although a VI person can rarely afford to buy such a software. In Hungary the television programs do not include any audio subtitles.
3. Are special measures put in place to ensure that polling stations are accessible to VI people?
   In Hungary there are no special measures in place to ensure the accessibility of polling stations for VI people, they can only get there as well as into the polling booth with the help of an accompanying guide.
4. Within polling stations, what measures are taken to ensure that VI people can exercise their rights in an autonomous and confidential manner?
   In Hungary, it is not ensured that a VI person can exercise his/her voting right independently and in a confidential manner within the polling station. VI people can vote either with the help of their sighted guide or it is possible to ask for the help of the supervisors controlling the voting procedure. In the latter case two assistants ensure that the intended name is ticked. Disabled persons incl. VI people may require a moving ballot urn to be delivered at their home.
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?
   In Hungary, in the case of proportional elections (by lists of candidates), no measures are taken to ensure that VI people can exercise their rights in an autonomous and confidential manner. Voting procedure is as described in the preceding Article.
6. Are their measures in place to assist VI people in the polling booths and when casting their vote in the urns?
   In Hungary, a VI person is permitted by law to use personal help in the polling booth and by the polling urn. Furthermore two supervisors of the election may be requested to help the VI person, or even a moving ballot urn may be required to be delivered at the VI person's home.
7. Are voting machines in place in your country? If yes, please detail how these are made accessible to VI people.
   In Hungary it is not possible to vote by machines.

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?
   In Hungary, VI people can participate without any restriction in political parties, unions, public and political organizations and associations.
2. Are their VI people in who have been elected to political, trade-union or associative office in your country?
   At present there are no VI people elected to political, trade-union or associative office in Hungary. There used to be one blind MP for two parliamentary election periods.
3. Do VI people in your country have unrestricted access to administrative office, including at top-level?
   In Hungary VI people have unrestricted access to administrative office, including at top-level. However an administrative office is very rarely borne by a VI person, while there has been no actual example of that at top level yet.

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.
   In Hungary, MVGYOSZ / Hungarian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted/ is the largest organization representing VI people. MVGYOSZ has got 22 member unions. There are also various foundations helping VI people.
2. What is the role played by these associations in representing VI people?
   The tasks of MVGYOSZ and its member unions include advocacy, representing VI people's interests, distributing aid tools, running a Braille and an audio library, production of Braille materials, counselling on accessibility projects, maintaining a blind guide dog training school, etc.
   Supporting services and rehabilitation centres are run by foundations, even Jaws for Windows Screen Reader Software has been translated into Hungarian and distributed in Hungary by a foundation.
3. How are VI people included in associations representing them?
   VI people can participate in their representative organizations either as an elected officer or work as an employee for them.

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