1.THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND BE ELECTED.
- Do visually impaired (hereafter VI) people suffer any restrictions to their rights to vote and/or to be elected? If yes, give details.
No - 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?
Nothing is specially adapted for VI people. But in some campaigns VI people are given adapted materials (large print mostly) provided by individual candidates. - Are special measures put in place to ensure that polling stations are accessible to VI people?
Yes - Within polling stations, what measures are taken to ensure that VI people can exercise their rights in an autonomous and confidential manner?
In accordance with the legislation each municipality in the country should provide at least one polling station accessible and adapted to people with different disabilities. Talking electronic polling machines can be used on some selected polling stations. At all polling stations special tactile voting devices (cardboard folder of the same size as the voting ballot, with holes over the boxes with candidates' numbers) for VI people are available. Independent voting for VI persons is so assured. -
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?
Talking polling machines are available within accessible and adapted polling stations. The device consists of headphones, touch screen, joystick, mouse, numeric keyboard and a printer. Ballots shall be printed in sealed envelopes. The polling machine allows multiple re-vote in the case that a voter wants to correct his vote before the final submission. See above.
- Are their measures in place to assist VI people in the polling booths and when casting their vote in the urns?
Yes - Are voting machines in place in your country? If yes, please detail how these are made accessible to VI people.
Yes, but only at certain polling stations, which are specified in advance (there should be at least one adjusted polling station per municipality). The candidate can be voted for by pressing the button.
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.
- Can VI people in your country participate in an unrestricted manner in political parties, unions, public and political organisations and associations?
Under the constitution each citizen has the right to participate in political parties, unions, public and political organisations and associations regardless of disability, gender, religion, social background etc. - Are their VI people in who have been elected to political, trade-union or associative office in your country?
Yes - 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.
- Please give an overview of the number/type of associations or organisations representing VI people in your country.
In Slovenia, blind and partially sighted people are represented by the Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Slovenia (UBPSS), which is divided into nine smaller regional associations. All mentioned associations including The Union are non-government and non- profit organisations. -
What is the role played by these associations in representing VI people?
Furthermore their role in the system is to improve educational and employment opportunities, social and health care and to encourage Blind and Partially sighted to take an active role in decision making process and enable them to live a full and independent life.
- How are VI people included in associations representing them?
The associations are run by VI people for VI people. VI people form the membership of regional associations and the Union. They have the right to vote and be elected as representatives and to decision-making bodies as well as to be elected for other different positions.