Hundreds of voters with disabilities in Jayapura, Papua, are hoping they can cast their votes during the concurrent regional elections slated for Feb. 15. “As Indonesian citizens with civil and political rights equal to others, we hope we can exercise our right to vote, although we have limitations” Papua-chapter Indonesia Difable Foundation (PCI) secretary Robby Yong said in Jayapura on Tuesday. He said many people with disabilities did not have wheelchairs, while in several cases, those with severe disabilities could only lie on their beds despite the fact they had the right to vote.
“It is our hope that their right to vote can be exercised. If it is possible, election officials could visit them in their homes, just like polling station officials visit voters who are undergoing medical treatment in hospitals or who are incarcerated in prisons,” said Robby.
According to the Papua General Elections Commission (KPU), 554 disabled voters were set to participate in the upcoming regional election in Jayapura.
Full Article: Disabled voters in Papua fight for access to polling stations – Politics – The Jakarta Post.