Four organizations have expressed concern over the barriers to voting for people with disabilities in the April 4 local council elections and the referendum to merge the parliamentary and presidential elections.

The Blind and Visually Impaired Society of Maldives, Maldives Deaf Association, Transparency Maldives and Maldives Local Council Association expressed concern over the Elections Commission (EC)'s arrangements.

In a joint press release, the four organizations said disability organizations and members of the National Advisory Committee on Elections had repeatedly expressed concern about the arrangements for the election.

However, the associations said the EC has not made adequate changes to the arrangements to ensure the participation of persons with disabilities.

Noting that an election that excludes people with disabilities would not be fair, the organizations said it was extremely worrying that information about the referendum was not readily available.

The organizations called for the inclusion of Maldivian Sign Language in all official election-related information, providing information in a manner easily understood by disabled persons, as well as ensuring that special templates for visually impaired persons are available at every polling station.