Article 51 states:
(1) Every person with a disability who has attained the age of eighteen years and above shall be entitled to enjoy and exercise political rights and opportunity as any other citizen without any form of discrimination.
(2) Subject to subsection (1), a person with a disability shall have a right to vote, hold public office and otherwise participate in the political rights and opportunity as any other citizen without any form of discrimination.
(3) The Minister shall, after consultation with the Council and National Electoral Commission -
- (a) ensure that the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected in public office is guaranteed by - (i) ensuring that voting procedure, facilities and materials are appropriate and accessibl to understand and use; (ii) ensuring that voter registration locations are accessible to persons with disabilities; (iii) ensuring that all polling places in each voting center have accessible requirements to voters with disabilities including accommodation of voters who use wheelchairs and device for persons with low vision and tactile ballot templates for visually impaired and deaf-blind persons; (iv) providing training for poll workers on the rights of persons with disabilities and the practical means of assuring their rights; (v) ensuring that voters with disabilities have the same degree of information available when casting their ballot as others; (vi) encouraging and providing reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities to stand for elections, and to hold office and perform all public functions at all levels in the Government; (vii) guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the persons with disabilities as electors, and where necessary, at their request, allowing assistance in voting by a person of their own choice; (vii) setting up criteria and procedures to be applied in appointing qualified persons with disabilities to be elected or be appointed to represent persons with disabilities in all decision and policy making process during the elections, through affirmative action or special prescribed arrangements;
- (b) promote actively an environment on which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs without discrimination and encourage their participation in the public affairs including - (i) participation in non-governmental organizations and association concerned with public and political life of the country including the activities and administration of political parties; (ii) forming and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to represent their interest at all levels.
(4) Where a voting place under this section is inaccessible to persons with disabilities, alternative location shall be identified and publicized to be used by such persons.
(5) The Government shall initiate and encourage appointment of persons with disabiliites in the organs of the Governman at all levels.
