Venezuela

Population Statistics

29,275,460

Total Population

4,391,319

Population with a disability

according to World Health Organization’s 15% estimate

Election Dates

24 September 2013

Ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities


Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (1999, last amended 2009)

Updated: June 2015

Article 81 states:

Any person with disability or special needs has the right to the full and autonomous exercise of his or her abilities and to its integration into the family and community. The State, with the joint participation of families and society, guarantees them respect for their human dignity, equality of opportunity and satisfactory working conditions, and shall promote their training, education and access to employment appropriate to their condition, in accordance with law. It is recognized that deaf persons have the right to express themselves and communicate through the Venezuelan sign language.

 

Excerpt from the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (1999, last amended 2009)

Organic Law on the Election Process (2009)

Updated: June 2015

Article 98 states:

Excluded from this provision are illiterate, blind, or disabled voters and those of advanced age who many exercise their right to vote with a person of their choice. No person shall be a companion for more than one time.

 

Article 156 states:

Data of disabled voters registered on the Electoral Register must additionally contain an indication of the condition of the elector with special needs, for the purpose of adapting physical spaces and electoral instruments in electoral places.

 

Article 157 states:

The National Electoral Council will tend to the design of voting tools to ensure accessibility for voters and voters with visual and motor impairments so that they can exercise their right to vote without any intermediation...

 

Article 158 states:

The National Electoral council will ensure that the campaigns’ outreach and education are developed to guarantee access to them on the part of voters with disabilities. In this sense there should be simultaneous translation of the message, including sign language messages, audiovisual works and the development of information options in Braille.

 

Excerpts from the Organic Law on the Election Process (2009)