With the national elections in full swing today, some thought should also be given to those citizens in need of special attention.
This is where the special vote for the physically and mentally disabled is important. A local councillor has taken special care this year, working with the West Rand Association for Persons with Disabilities to make the proper preparations for their residents. All of them were fully registered at the centre a few weeks prior to the elections, and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) visited them on 6 or 7 May so they could cast their votes, right at their home.
Why is it important that special arrangements be made? Annalene Rossouw from the centre explained: “Some of our residents have very short attention spans, and it’s difficult to get them to the normal voting stations because some struggle to walk or stand in line for too long”.
It is imperative, then, that the IEC comes to them.
“The voting locale has to be accessible for both the blind, and those in wheelchairs. The IEC comes here and sets up a booth just like normal. It’s easier here because we are already set up for disabled people,” Annalene also said.
JP Stander is 32 and will be voting in an election for the first time ever.
“I don’t really know how I feel,” he said. “It’s just a normal day.” But, he did also say that he thinks his vote would make at least a little bit of a difference.
“Every vote counts. We’ll see if anything changes.”
Nicolene Bates, 45, has voted a few times before and takes this opportunity very seriously.
“It determines the future of our land, and people must see disabled people.”
She hopes her vote will help bring more advantages for them in the form of increased pensions, better accessibility everywhere in the country and improved transport.
“It’s good for me to see that there are people who want to help us.”
