Efforts are in full swing at the taluk level for enrolling the differently abled on the voters’ list with the support of booth-level officers and anganwadi workers.
A three-day door-to-door drive carried out recently in the district could enrol the majority of the eligible voters from the group.
The drive will continue for a few more days to bring those left out on the rolls. The election authorities give special consideration for the differently abled as there are about 7.94 lakh people belonging to this section in Kerala, constituting 2.32% of the total population.
Facilities for women
Among them, women constitute 44.57%. There will be facilities for them to easily cast their votes at the respective polling stations.
Based on a Statewide survey of persons with disabilities, the highest number of disabled persons is in Malappuram district.
About 12.5% of the total differently abled population is in Malappuram district as per the 2015 statistics.
Second place
Thiruvananthapuram district stands second with 9.72% of the population. Those suffering from locomotor disabilities stand top with 32.89% and persons with multiple disabilities second with 17.31%.
For the differently abled voters, arrangements will be made to set up special polling booths with easy wheelchair access.
They will not have to wait in queues at any of the polling stations as instant support will be provided by the polling officials posted at the spot. Arrangements will be made in such a way to help them reach directly the place where the electronic voting machine is kept.
For the visually challenged, there will be a chart in Braille letters to understand the details of candidates and caste their vote with proper understanding.
Such charts will be made available at all polling stations for the reference of such voters. Those in need of transportation and volunteer support will be extended the same.
For the aurally challenged, special awareness sessions are on the cards under the leadership of election authorities.