Disabled Rights Advocates in South Korea Submit Hand-Drawn Petitions for Pictorial Ballots

Korea People First and other disability rights organizations displayed the artistic petitions during a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Court. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – A group of people with developmental disabilities submitted hand-drawn petitions to a Seoul court on October 29, just days before a crucial appeals court ruling on their lawsuit demanding pictorial ballots to ensure their voting rights.

Korea People First and other disability rights organizations displayed the artistic petitions during a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Court, urging authorities to “guarantee equal voting rights for people with developmental disabilities by providing pictorial ballots.”

“Even those with developmental disabilities who can process some information find it challenging to independently identify their preferred candidates when faced with text-only ballots in voting booths,” the advocates argued.

They contend that the state’s practice of providing identical ballots to all voters, without considering the specific needs of those with developmental disabilities, effectively prevents this group from exercising their constitutional right to vote.

The organizations submitted 1,054 petitions in total, including 70 hand-drawn ballots created by people with developmental disabilities themselves. These illustrated petitions featured candidates’ faces and identifying symbols alongside their names, with messages such as “I want to vote too.”

The legal battle began in January 2022, when these groups filed a lawsuit against the state ahead of the 20th presidential election, demanding pictorial ballots and election materials in easy-to-understand formats. 

The lower court dismissed the case, ruling that providing pictorial ballots would violate the current Public Official Election Act, which stipulates specific formats for election materials and ballots. The appeals court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on December 6.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)