On Tuesday, November 8th, Jaap Smit presented a Political Handbook for Everyone on behalf of all the provinces! in receipt. Smit was chairman of the Interprovincial Consultation (IPO) and King’s Commissioner in the province of South Holland. By adopting this guide, he made it clear that provinces and political parties would like to seek accessible and understandable State and water board elections by March 2023. See annex film.

Accessible politics is not self-evident

Elections are not quite accessible to 1 in 4 people in the Netherlands. Party programs are often full of difficult words. Meetings aren’t always accessible to everyone, either. Many people still encounter barriers when it comes to online information. It must be increased, according to ProDemos, Foundation for Reading and Writing, Knowledge of Seeing and Everyone. That’s why they created the guide ‘Politics For Everyone!’. It contains many tips about accessibility and communication in simple language. This guide is intended for provincial officials, water boards, political parties and other organizations concerned with this election.

Submit

At the presentation, Jaap Smit underlined the importance of accessibility and completeness of elections. He explained that he would forward this guide to all provincial politicians.

On receiving the guidance, Smit said: “Every Dutch person deserves the opportunity to make an informed choice during elections. It’s for the benefit of all of us. Therefore, I thank Everyone, ProDemos, Kennis for Zien and Stichting Lezen en Schrijven for this flyer and would like to convey their message to all those who campaigned during the Provincial Council elections.”

Do it together with the people concerned

This guide makes everyone involved in the administration of elections and election meetings more aware of the importance of accessibility to elections and information about them. This guide also makes it clear how important it is to involve persons with disabilities or people who have difficulties with language, arithmetic and/or digital skills. After all, they are the best place to tell you what they need, where things aren’t well organized and what needs improvement.

“Sometimes it’s hard for me to find what I need in terms of information and sometimes I get stuck,” said Jeen Hofstra, one of the 2 experience experts who submitted the guide. “I think everyone should be able to choose, voting is a right that we have, but that right doesn’t apply to everyone,” said Hofstra.

Ton van Weerdenburg, who works for the Eye Association and is blind himself, also provides examples of why this guide is needed: “Websites are often rendered inaccessible, so my screen readers cannot read what is written” and “ballots and polling locations voice is often inaccessible.” “In an increasingly complex world, voting should be easier,” said Van Weerdenburg.

ProDemos, Reading and Writing Foundation, Knowledge of sight and Elke(in) created the guide ‘Politics for everyone!’ commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Cities and all political parties participating in provincial elections will receive guidance.