Accessible Elections
National Voters' Day 2018 had 'accessible elections' as its theme. Major thrust was on making elections accessible to the differently able adults, who are often kept out of the electoral process for several reasons, consciously or even unconsciously. Election Commission of India, with support from the states and union territories, have been trying consistently to break the jinx and seamlessly integrate the people with different ability into the electoral process.
On 3-4 July 2018, Commission organised a national consultation on accessible elections. Proceedings of the national consultation are available on the website of the Election Commission of India.
On the concluding day of the Workshop, the Commission released a document containing the strategic framework for accessible elections.
On the concluding day of the Workshop, the Commission released a document containing the strategic framework for accessible elections.
When the General Elections of the Indian Parliament 2019 is knocking at our door, the Commission initiated several measures to reach out to the differently able people with its call for their registration as electors and subsequently their participation in voting. House to house visit by the Booth level Officers (BLO) to identify differently able adults, empower them with necessary knowledge and logistics for registration as electors, once registered provide them with their Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC). Differently able electors, once identified or newly enrolled, are then marked in the electoral rolls. For this they are categorised into certain basic categories, each requiring different type of facilitation. Persons with locomotor disability would need support of wheelchair to reach the room where the polling station is located. Persons with speech and hearing impairment would require support of sign language, especially in increasing awareness on voters' participation. Persons with visual impairment having exposure to braille would feel comfortable when the ballot papers are in braille.
Post identification, the election machinery is supposed to provide required support to the identified electors. Ramps are to be provided for the electors finding it difficult to climb the stairs. People with severe locomotor issues might need wheelchair as support. During 2016 Assembly Elections some of the campaign materials developed by the state election team used sign language to reach out to the electors having disability in speech and hearing. Finally, the control units of the electronic voting machines have got guide in braille. This in association of a specially designed ballot paper in braille given to each of the Presiding Officers is expected to empower the visually challenged electors.
There are several measures to make elections accessible. The motto of the Election Commission, 'no voter should be left behind' will be realised only when we ensure enrolment of all differently able eligible adults and bring them to the voting compartment. The task is difficult, but achievable. It needs support from the civil society organisations, especially those dealing with the differently able people and of the media to substantially improve this particular human face of the electoral machinery.
We would urge upon the differently able adults and their families to come forward for enrollment of each and everyone of them and to bring them for voting. Their right to vote is no less significant than the rights of their conventionally able counterparts.
Post identification, the election machinery is supposed to provide required support to the identified electors. Ramps are to be provided for the electors finding it difficult to climb the stairs. People with severe locomotor issues might need wheelchair as support. During 2016 Assembly Elections some of the campaign materials developed by the state election team used sign language to reach out to the electors having disability in speech and hearing. Finally, the control units of the electronic voting machines have got guide in braille. This in association of a specially designed ballot paper in braille given to each of the Presiding Officers is expected to empower the visually challenged electors.
There are several measures to make elections accessible. The motto of the Election Commission, 'no voter should be left behind' will be realised only when we ensure enrolment of all differently able eligible adults and bring them to the voting compartment. The task is difficult, but achievable. It needs support from the civil society organisations, especially those dealing with the differently able people and of the media to substantially improve this particular human face of the electoral machinery.
We would urge upon the differently able adults and their families to come forward for enrollment of each and everyone of them and to bring them for voting. Their right to vote is no less significant than the rights of their conventionally able counterparts.
Comments
Post a Comment