“ I was especially eager to join the effort because it entailed observing barriers that persons with disabilities, like myself, face. ” Maria del Carmen Guerrero German, a 23 year-old student trained as an election observer, Dominican Republic Political Rights Training – IFES and La Red conducted regional and municipal-level workshops on the electoral process and the importance of voting. These workshops reached 2,279 persons with disabilities. Twenty municipal DPO leaders were also trained as facilitators to raise awareness on electoral rights. Additionally, awareness was raised through the distribution of 1,000 posters and voter education brochures. Political Platform and Forum – Eighteen local DPOs formed a working group to develop a political platform about issues of importance, including accessible infrastructure and inclusive education. The platform was presented to presidential candidates in a forum attended by four parties. Each candidate signed the platform, thereby committing to implementing its provisions, if elected. The winning candidate’s government has implemented recommendations from the document. This includes a national disability law, building curb cuts in sidewalks and developing a literacy action plan for the country. Voter Registration – IFES and La Red worked with the JCE to coordinate efforts to include six women with disabilities in leadership roles for the JCE’s “Verificate” campaign, which urged people to verify their voter registration and polling station information. In order to reach as many persons with disabilities as possible, IFES identified organizations like the Dominican Association of Rehabilitation to serve as hubs for “Verificate” campaign activities. As a result of this strategy, over 1,000 persons with disabilities had the opportunity to confirm their registration details. Poll Worker Training – The JCE, in collaboration with La Red and the National Council on Disability, supported a training of trainers for 154 officials focused on how to administer the vote to persons with disabilities. A variety of specific techniques were covered, including a unit on basic sign language. The trainers then imparted this information to poll workers at the municipal level in cascade trainings. A reference brochure Posters and brochures on voting were distributed across the country, including to universities, rehabilitation centers and was also developed for poll workers to use on community centers. Election Day. 70 International Foundation for Electoral Systems and National Democratic Institute