IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY OF THE RIGHT TO PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES IN GENERAL ELECTION

Right to vote of persons with mental disabilities raises a polemic among the public, which affects the quality of elections. The research aims to determine the right to vote of persons with mental disabilities in the election process and the accessibility of persons with mental disabilities to the quality of elections. This study uses normative research using a statutory approach and conceptual approach. The result shows that persons with mental disabilities are included in psychosocial disorders (mentally retarred) not
included people with mental disorders. Persons with mental disabilities can distribute their voting rights by
fulfilling adequate accessibility so that they are included as unconditional voters. Accessibility for persons with
mental disabilities must meet the completeness of additional equipment, voter assistance, localization of polling
stations and policy regulations in the form of technical instructions. The technical guidelines made by the
election organizers contain several provisions namely: Categories and qualifications of persons with mental
disabilities who participate in elections; Voting equipment is additional. The phase of socialization was
conducted through online and offline (face to face). The formation of voter assistants, and the availability of
friendly polling stations for people with mental disabilities. Providing structural accessibility for persons with mental disabilities will create quality elections by fulfilling the principles of direct, general, free, confidential, honest, and fair elections. This research is a reference for election committees in increasing voter participation and the transparency of voting results