In previous reports, FRA found issues in the Member States related to explicit legal restrictions on participation, administrative or other barriers to participation, and accommodation with inadequate physical or other access. The findings of this report point to the need for Member States to continue their efforts to improve the political participation of people with disabilities, in particular as regards legal capacity and accessibility of and participation in the voting process, including by improving rights awareness in line with their commitment to implement the CRPD in full. They should ensure that people with disabilities are empowered and supported not only to vote, but also to stand for election. As in 2014, gaps remain in collecting data and statistics on people with disabilities in the context of elections.
The following ways forward point to priority actions that can help people with disabilities realise their right to vote and the right to stand for elections on an equal basis with others, in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the CRPD.