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The right to vote of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons

with mental health problems in the European Union

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What does the law say?

What have we found?

What needs to be done?

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What does the law say?

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The protection of the right to get

involved in politics and law has a long history.

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Article 29 The United Nations Convention

on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities have the right to be involved in politics and law just like other people do.

Governments should make it easier for persons with disabilities to join in with politics and law making

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What have we found?

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In some countries, persons with disabilities are not allowed to get involved with politics and law at all.

In some countries, persons with disabilities might be allowed to get involved with politics and law, depending on their legal capacity – a court decides.

In other countries, persons with disabilities are allowed to vote and be elected like other citizens.

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What needs to be done?

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Changing the law:

- the constitution could be changed,

- or individual laws could be changed

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Make it easier to vote in practice:

- help people get to where the vote is taking place,

- let people vote from home.

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In summary…

persons with disabilities have the right to vote according to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

people are not allowed to vote in all of the countries in the European Union

the law could be changed and things could be done to make it easier for people with disabilities to vote.

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For more information

email disability@fra.europa.eu

visit www.fra.europa.eu