Bihar: EC puts special efforts to encourage physically disabled persons to cast vote

PATNA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is putting special efforts that physical disability of any voter doesn’t create any hindrance in casting his vote in the next year’s general election for 17th Lok Sabha.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Bihar, HR Srinivasa, while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday said that emphasis is being laid that how to add physically disabled persons in the ongoing special summary revision of photo electoral roll for the upcoming election.

The revision started on September 1 and would continue till October 31 during which the electoral roll would be revised and those who are attaining an age of 18 years on January 1, 2019, can get themselves enrolled in the electoral roll for voting next year along with deletion of names of deceased voters.

“We are working on the matter that how the number of physically disabled persons could be brought at the polling stations so that they can cast their votes,” he said.

The CEO also said that special facilities like ramps would be present at each polling station for the general election. He also said that issue of required transport facility for such voters is being also looked into.

“In addition, priority would be given to them that a physically disabled voter is not made to wait in the queue and he or she is given preference for casting vote. We are collecting data that on which polling booth, which type of physically disabled voters are there,” he said.

“This year is being observed as a year of ‘Accessible Election’ under which all such types of steps for voters are being taken up,” Srinivasa said.

In a reply to a query, Srinivasa said that while The Rights Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, defines 21 different categories of physical disabilities, ECI identified five categories of disabilities which covers all those, which are under the Act.

He also said that a special one day workshop would be held over the issue with all the district magistrates (DM), who are also the district election officer (DEO), and deputy election officers on Wednesday in which several issues related to giving facilities to physically disabled persons would be discussed.

He said that a team of eight engineers, two officials of ECI, NGOs and political party workers would also attend the workshop.