The Participation Of Persons With Mental Disabilities In The Process Of Organizing Elections In Medan City Year

by ADMIN 112 views

The Participation of Persons with Mental Disabilities in the Process of Organizing Elections in Medan City Year

Introduction

The participation of persons with disabilities, especially people with mental disabilities, in the holding of elections in Medan in 2019, became a hot topic discussed by the public. Many parties questioned the relevance of their participation in the democratic process which was considered by some circles as a futile action. However, the General Election Commission (KPU) as the organizer of the election has provided an in-depth explanation and strong reasons related to this. In this context, it is essential to explore how the legal arrangements regarding the right to vote with mental disabilities and how their participation in elections in the city of Medan.

Background

The right to vote is a fundamental right that is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. However, the implementation of this right is often hindered by various obstacles, including the lack of accessibility and understanding of the community regarding the rights of persons with disabilities. In the case of people with mental disabilities, their participation in the democratic process is often limited due to the lack of facilities and infrastructure that support their needs.

Legal Framework

The regulation regarding the rights of persons with mental disabilities is not only focused on one regulation, but is spread in various laws and regulations. These regulations include:

  • The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia: Article 28D of the Constitution guarantees the right to vote for all citizens, including persons with disabilities.
  • Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities: This law provides a comprehensive framework for the protection and empowerment of persons with disabilities, including their right to vote.
  • Law No. 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights: This law guarantees the right to vote for all citizens, including persons with disabilities.
  • Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 36 of 2009 concerning Health: This law provides a framework for the protection and promotion of health, including the health of persons with disabilities.
  • Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2014 concerning Mental Health: This law provides a framework for the protection and promotion of mental health, including the rights of persons with mental disabilities.
  • Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections: This law provides a framework for the organization of general elections, including the participation of persons with disabilities.
  • Constitutional Court Decision Number 135/PUU/XIII/2015: This decision provides a clear interpretation of the right to vote for persons with disabilities.

Challenges and Obstacles

Despite the existence of various legal arrangements that guarantee voting rights for people with mental disabilities, the implementation of the election in 2019 shows that their participation has not been maximized. Various obstacles may be a cause of lack of participation, both in terms of infrastructure, accessibility, and understanding of the community regarding the rights of persons with mental disabilities. This raises concerns about the real commitment to uphold the principles of justice and equal rights in the law.

Conclusion

In the face of future elections, more attention needs to be given to optimize the participation of persons with disabilities, especially mental disabilities. This includes increasing facilities that support accessibility, as well as education and campaigns to increase public awareness of the importance of participation of all groups in the democratic process. Thus, it is hoped that future elections are not only more inclusive, but also reflect the principles of true democracy, where every vote, including the voices of people with mental disabilities, valued and calculated.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

  • Increase facilities that support accessibility: This includes the provision of accessible polling stations, transportation, and other facilities that support the needs of persons with disabilities.
  • Education and campaigns: This includes education and campaigns to increase public awareness of the importance of participation of all groups in the democratic process, including persons with mental disabilities.
  • Training for election officials: This includes training for election officials to ensure that they are aware of the rights of persons with disabilities and can provide support and assistance as needed.
  • Monitoring and evaluation: This includes monitoring and evaluation of the participation of persons with disabilities in elections to identify areas for improvement and to ensure that their rights are protected.

Future Research

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the participation of persons with mental disabilities in the process of organizing elections in Medan City. However, there are still many areas that require further research, including:

  • The impact of accessibility on participation: This includes the impact of accessibility on the participation of persons with disabilities in elections.
  • The role of education and campaigns: This includes the role of education and campaigns in increasing public awareness of the importance of participation of all groups in the democratic process, including persons with mental disabilities.
  • The effectiveness of training for election officials: This includes the effectiveness of training for election officials in ensuring that they are aware of the rights of persons with disabilities and can provide support and assistance as needed.

By conducting further research in these areas, it is hoped that the participation of persons with mental disabilities in the democratic process can be optimized and that their rights can be protected.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Participation of Persons with Mental Disabilities in the Process of Organizing Elections in Medan City

Q: What is the current situation regarding the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections in Medan City?

A: The current situation is that the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections in Medan City is limited due to various obstacles, including the lack of accessibility and understanding of the community regarding the rights of persons with disabilities.

Q: What are the legal arrangements that guarantee the right to vote for persons with mental disabilities?

A: The legal arrangements that guarantee the right to vote for persons with mental disabilities include the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities, Law No. 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights, Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 36 of 2009 concerning Health, Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2014 concerning Mental Health, Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections, and Constitutional Court Decision Number 135/PUU/XIII/2015.

Q: What are the challenges and obstacles that hinder the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections?

A: The challenges and obstacles that hinder the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections include the lack of infrastructure, accessibility, and understanding of the community regarding the rights of persons with disabilities.

Q: What are the recommendations for optimizing the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections?

A: The recommendations for optimizing the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections include increasing facilities that support accessibility, education and campaigns to increase public awareness of the importance of participation of all groups in the democratic process, training for election officials, and monitoring and evaluation of the participation of persons with disabilities in elections.

Q: What are the areas that require further research regarding the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections?

A: The areas that require further research regarding the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections include the impact of accessibility on participation, the role of education and campaigns, and the effectiveness of training for election officials.

Q: What is the significance of the participation of persons with mental disabilities in the democratic process?

A: The participation of persons with mental disabilities in the democratic process is significant because it reflects the principles of true democracy, where every vote, including the voices of people with mental disabilities, is valued and calculated.

Q: What are the benefits of increasing the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections?

A: The benefits of increasing the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections include a more inclusive and representative democratic process, a more accurate reflection of the will of the people, and a more just and equitable society.

Q: What are the potential consequences of not increasing the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections?

A: The potential consequences of not increasing the participation of persons with mental disabilities in elections include a lack of representation and voice for persons with mental disabilities, a lack of accountability and transparency in the democratic process, and a perpetuation of inequality and injustice in society.