tively target opportunities to ensure access throughout the election cycle. These tools have been used in Southeast Asia and Latin America to help DPOs identify gaps and advocate for more accessible elections. In addition to conducting observation focused specifically on access issues, persons with disabilities should be included as mainstream election observers. It should be emphasized that the presence of observers with disabilities in the polling station has a direct impact on changing public attitudes and opinions by delivering the message they are capable and can be involved in civil society commitments. It also emphasizes to persons with disabilities that they are part of the community. Mainstream observer groups should also include several questions on their checklists about election access. Some observation groups do this, but many do not. IFES and NDI have worked alongside other international organizations to develop standards for international election observation missions and domestic monitoring initiatives. Included in these standards are the need to include analysis of whether equal access is provided for persons with disabilities and a recommendation that barriers faced by persons with disabilities are included in final observer mission reports. Inclusion of disability issues in observer reports requires minimal additional cost or training, and can be an important way to ensure respect for the rights of persons with disabilities in future election cycles. Good Practice An observation mission for Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga (lower house of the National Assembly) elections had several thematic analyses, including election administration, electoral complaints process, security, role of the media and the participation of women, minorities and persons with disabilities. The final report revealed that although many regulations to protect voters with disabilities remained in place, the 2010 elections were less accessible than the 2005 elections. However, the report found the EMB was able to meet the 5 percent hiring quota for persons with disabilities set under the regulations adopted in 2005. The inclusion of an analysis of the ability of persons with disabilities to participate combined with the hiring quota ensured the observation report set the foundation for increased political participation of persons with disabilities. Election observations should have the following characteristics:  Observations focused solely on the accessibility of the election  Mainstream observations include accessibility as one of many metrics  Persons with disabilities included on mainstream observation missions AGENDA observers noted the inaccessible conditions at this polling station in Indonesia. 52 International Foundation for Electoral Systems and National Democratic Institute