In 2015, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and Consejo Nacional para la Atención de las Personas con Discapacidad (CONADI), with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), produced a series of radio spots on election accessibility in Guatemala. Transcripts of the radio spots are available below.
--Transcript--
Man 1: Have you decided for whom you are going to vote this September?
Man 2: Yes, of course, and for whom are you going to vote?
Man 1: Remember that every vote is secret, and you can rely on polling stations to conduct positive elections for all people with disabilities in order to facilitate voting and keep it secret.
Man 2: With the help of braille for people who are blind.
(music plays)
Woman: Voting is our right...
Man 3: A commitment of Guatemala...
Woman: And persons with disabilities...
Man 3 and Woman: We should exercise.
Man 3: A message from CONADI with the support of USAID and IFES.
Man 4: Working together for full participation.
--End Transcript--
Man 1: Where are you going so seriously?
Man 2: What happened is that the elections are already here. I have been assigned to vote in a school that is located far across the cemetary, and I don't know if it has a ramp for my wheelchair.
Man 1: All the voting centers have accessible entrances to facilitate voting of persons with disabilities.
Man 2: It's important that there are no barriers to exercise...
(music plays)
Woman: Voting is our right...
Man 3: A commitment of Guatemala...
Woman: And persons with disabilities...
Man 3 and Woman: We should exercise.
Man 3: A message from CONADI with the support of USAID and IFES.
Man 4: Working together for full participation.
--End Transcript--
Man 1: What's up, Sandi, and what are you doing here?
Sandi: I will accompany my father to exercise his right to vote on September 6th. He is a little person. I am going to see the accessible polling stations and if they will have adjustable voting booths.
Man 1: Of course, Sandi. All centers will have accessible voting booths for people who use wheelchairs and little people.
(music plays)
Woman: Voting is our right...
Man 3: A commitment of Guatemala...
Woman: And persons with disabilities...
Man 3 and Woman: We should exercise.
Man 3: A message from CONADI with the support of USAID and IFES.
Man 4: Working together for full participation.
--End Transcript--
--Transcript--
Woman: Good morning, sir. Why don't you answer? Oh, I know...you are a Deaf person.
Man: When a person who is Deaf arrives to the polling station, speak again, pronouncing each word clearly.
Woman: For better communication, it helps to use gestures or to write what you want to say.
(music plays)
Woman: Voting is our right...
Man 3: A commitment of Guatemala...
Woman: And persons with disabilities...
Man 3 and Woman: We should exercise.
Man 3: A message from CONADI with the support of USAID and IFES.
Man 4: Working together for full participation.
--End Transcript--
*Photo above provided by IFES.