Observation of the Presidential Election process

Introduction

From 1^st to 4^th August 2017, NUDOR in partnership with Handicap International observed presidential election process in the different electoral sites of four sectors in two districts Nyamasheke and Gasabo.

This process was made of two main parts: the first one was the three days from first to third was the checking of the preparations of the presidential election preparation and give advices on the friendly and inclusive elections for persons with disabilities. This was done on different electoral sites in four sectors where the project operates including: Ruharambuga and Kanjongo in Nyamasheke district, Kimironko and Nduba in Gasabo district.

The second part was the presidential election observation itself; on this, The NUDOR team had to only observe the inclusion and the facilitation of persons with different disabilities basing on four selected items on the checklist.

Purpose of the action

Observe the inclusion and the facilitation of persons with different disabilities in presidential election of August 2017.

The NUDOR observers:

Observers were 5 persons from NUDOR

4. List of things observe

Physical accessibility to voting site and to the voting room
The proper use of IMBONEZA Y’ITORA the tool made for helping visually impaired persons to independently vote
The participation of the hearing impaired persons and their communication with the NEC volunteers if necessary
How persons with disabilities are facilitated to get directly inside the voting room

Places of observation and its results

5.1. Gasabo District

Date	04/08/2017
District	Gasabo district
Sector	Kimironko sector, Remera sector, Kimihurura sector, Kacyiru sector, nduba sector, Kinyinya sector and Gisozi sector
Electoral site	Kimironkosecondry school 1, Kimironkosecondry school 2, écoleInternationale de Kigali, Primary school Kakiru , Green hills Academy, ETM school, URCE, Petit stade, GS Nduba St Kizito, EP Sha Saint Joseph, Kanani Nursery School, GS Kinyinya, PEFA Wisdom School, GS Kagugu and ULK
Observation results based on four things
Regarding the physical accessibility A. Generally the sites in Gasabo were not disability friendly. For example, the ULK station in Gisozi is a storyied building which would make it difficult for people with physical disabilities. (see the attached picture no 1) B. A few sites were appreciated as fully accessible. For example the Kanani site in Nduba is a newly constructed nursery school which is accessible. (see picture 2) Where possible NEC volunteers managed to look for some accessible rooms to reasonably accommodate the physically impaired persons as well as the vulnerable ones especially at ETM school, in this school due to its high physical inaccessibility They fixed tents in playing ground.		Regarding the proper use of imbonezay’itora for Blind people A. The tool was present at all sites. B. NEC volunteers explained that they have been trained on the proper use of the tool. C. Only a few volunteers are able to explain properly the use of the tool and its relevance. The picture number 4 shows the Volunteers explaining the use of the tool to the observer. D. Some NEC volunteers still believe a blind person still needs an assistant (a child or someone else to guide him or her.	Participation of hearing impaired persons and their communication with NEC volunteers if necessary: A. Generally, when a deaf person showed up to vote, communication between NEC volunteers and the person was almost impossible; for the solution, The NEC volunteers tried to look for the mediating person. B. Some sites, there are volunteers who are teachers and have benefited to a training in sign language and so they were helping deaf peoples. C. A site coordinator in Nduba said that a deaf person showed up and they used ‘the improvised sign language’ to explain him the processes and it all went well.	How persons with disabilities are facilitated to get directly inside the voting room A. Persons with disabilities and other vulnerable persons including: oldest and pregnant mothers were facilitated to directly inter inside the voting rooms lining up. B. Some NEC volunteers are PWDs which make it is easy for facilitating other PWDs. C. Some polling stations have a rest room for weak persons (PWDs, old and the sick) in case it’s needed. (see picture number 4)

Pictures

Some sites are not all accessible	A few sites are accessible
*Some sites are not all accessible*	A few sites are accessible
*A NEC volunteer explains imbonezay’itora*	*The room for the weak setting*
A NEC volunteer explains imbonezay’itora	The room for the weak setting

5.2 Nyamasheke District

Date	04/08/2017
District	Nyamasheke district
Sector	Ruharambuga and Kanjongo
Electoral site	Ntendenzi Primary school, EAV Ntendenzi in Ruharambuga and Kibogora
Observation results based on four items of check list
Regarding the physical accessibility The two sites in Ruharambuga were at some extent accessible to Persons with disabilities compared to Kibogora site in Kanjongo Sector. Kibogora site was not at all accessible to Persons with physical disability. In this case, Persons with physical disabilities were helped by NEC volunteers to enter in the voting rooms.		Regarding the proper use of imboneza y’ itora for Blind people; The tool was present at sites and the NEC volunteers were trained on the proper use of the tool. However, the persons with visual impairment have not trained on the use of the tool so that they voted with assistance of children between 14-16 years old.	Participation of hearing impaired persons and their communication with NEC volunteers if necessary: The deaf persons were also assisted by showing them the photos of candidates and the place of posing their fingers in informal sign language.	How persons with disabilities are facilitated to get directly inside the voting room Persons with disabilities and other vulnerable persons among others oldest and pregnant women were facilitated to directly inter inside the voting rooms lining up.