The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences and meaning of people with developmental disabilities by participating in elections. To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted for five people with developmental disabilities who lived in D or S metropolitan city and had at least one public election experience. The analysis of the data resulted in four themes: ''Invisible exclusion reality'', ''Pride as a citizen'', ''Support for the right to vote'' and ''Movements for equal election''.
Findings indicates that:
(1) Most of the study participants experienced the reality of being excluded from election participation, faced with difficult election barriers or ignored, coerced, and discriminated against as neighbors. Therefore, measures should be sought to include people with developmental disabilities so that political rights can be realized equally with other members of society.
(2) Most of the study participants felt that they had become adults through elections and that they were proud of themselves as autonomous citizens by interacting with their surrounding people. This means that people with developmental disabilities can actively communicate with society through elections. Therefore, they should be recognized as independent voters who exercise their rights and form a mutual relationship with society.
(3) Most of the study participants expressed the need for social support to guarantee their right to election and suggested alternatives to public assistance, easy-to-understand elections and communication with people with developmental disabilities. Rather than looking at the election of people with developmental disabilities as a matter of individual''s ability to act, an election environment should be established considering these social and cultural dimensions.
(4) Most of the study participants were experiencing activities to guarantee their rights, gathering strength for elections in which the political appearance and various disability characteristics of the disabled are respected. This means that the power of people with disabilities must be strengthened to ensure equal elections for all people with disabilities and various political engagement support measures should be devised to empower people with disabilities.
The results of this study suggest changes in social perception regarding elections of the people with developmental disabilities and the need for full participation. The election should be provided with diverse support to enable people with disabilities to equally realize their political rights as an opportunity to communicate with society and become an independent being.