Breaking down the barriers. Persons with disabilities and their right to vote in European Parliament elections

All adult Europeans, including those with disabilities, have the right to vote in national and European Parliament elections. This right is based upon many binding legal documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Unfortunately, across the EU, many persons with disabilities cannot exercise their full voting rights.  A report by European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) rapporteur Krzysztof Pater estimates that around 800 000 EU citizens in 16 EU countries are legally deprived by national rules of their right to vote in elections to the European Parliament because of their disabilities or mental health problems.

EU Publications. All in one place. Publications Office of the European Union

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Breaking down the barriers. Persons with disabilities and their right to vote in European Parliament elections