Unequal Rights: Analyzing Structural Accessibility and Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the Electoral Process

Abstract

In the context where Thailand and the global community accept the principle of inclusive elections that leave no one behind, the group of people with disabilities still faces structural obstacles in accessing fundamental rights, such as the right to vote. This research aims to analyze the relationship between access structures, which consist of polling stations, assistance services for accessibility, the role of social leaders, the perception of the right to participate, and the voter turnout rate of people with disabilities in Thailand. The study uses Pearson Correlation analysis with relevant secondary data. The results found that the structural factors have an extremely high correlation with each other ($r = 1.000, p < .001$), thus reflecting a service system that moves together in a centralized manner. Meanwhile, the relationship between perception of rights and voter turnout is positive ($r = .784$) but lacks statistical significance ($p > .05$). This outcome suggests that the participation of people with disabilities may not solely depend on the "provision" (technical aspects) alone, but also on the "feeling of having the right to participate." Therefore, this research proposes that designing fair electoral policies for people with disabilities needs to move beyond the framework of technical facilitation toward fostering a sense of entitlement, self-confidence, and creating a public space that supports the role of people with disabilities as equal citizens in a democracy.