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Steps to give 1.2m disabled a chance to vote
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A differently abled person from the Victoria Home in Colombo on his way to cast his vote at the 2015 Presidential election
Braille polling cards, effective access to polling stations and special voting arrangements will be put in place for future elections to uphold the voting rights of some 1.2 million people with disabilities.
The Election Commission (EC) is also considering having a wheel chair at every polling centre for those who have mobility difficulties.
“This is one of the important issues we have been discussing with representatives of all registered political parties lately and we would urge the government to pass necessary amendments in order to incorporate these measures,” EC Additional Commissioner M.M. Mohamed said.
While there are already some provisions under the Elections Act which have special arrangements for people with disabilities the government had to pass amendments for practical implementation.
“Another procedure we are considering is allowing them to vote near polling stations with the help of a third person if they can’t enter a polling centre directly,” Mr. Mohamed said. “We are collecting information on such voters through grama niladharis so that we can set up special facilities in selected areas in every district.”
Nearly 1.2 million eligible voters of the two million people with disabilities are left out in every election,” the election watchdog, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), said.
“CMEV has taken the initiative to provide braille printing of all available main Election Acts and resources,” the Centre’s National Coordinator, Manjula Gajanayake, said. “We educate people with disabilities to exercise their right to vote.”
He said the EC had already taken some steps including conducting an islandwide census of voters with disability in each electorate in order to set up special polling stations with adequate facilities in selected areas.
(SR)