News
More needs to be done for differently abled voters
View(s):By Dilushi Wijesinghe
Although the 2024 presidential election was billed as being inclusive for differently abled voters, international election observers have pointed out shortcomings in facilities.
Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) Executive Director Brizza Rosales told the Sunday Times that they witnessed elderly voters and persons with disabilities (PWDs) encountering physical barriers at some polling centers that raised concerns about the inclusivity and accessibility of the voting infrastructure.
Local correspondents reporting from different polling centres had also pointed out that differently abled voters appeared to be unaware of the facilities available and had refrained from casting their vote.
However District Secretaries in areas such as Anuradhapura said facilities such as ramps had been built to assist differently abled voters, and three-wheelers had been arranged to transport the voters from the entrance of the premises of polling stations.
Notably, the assisted voting system was said to be preferred over the tactile ballot system which was introduced for visually impaired persons for the first time.
International election observers however said that they did not observe the system being used. Pix by Priyanka Samaraweera
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