KOHIMA, AUGUST 8 (MExN): State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD), Diethono Nakhro has written to the Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, to remind that all measures need to be taken to enable all voters with disabilities to exercise their franchise without any obstacles or barriers, in line with the ECI’s Strategic Framework on Accessible Elections.
A press release from the SCPD informed this in view of the upcoming State Assembly Elections next year.
Section 11 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 calls for ensuring that all polling stations are accessible to persons with disabilities and all materials related to the electoral process are easily understandable by and accessible to them.
As per the Strategic Framework, the SCPD said that political parties are advised to have their constitution and manifestoes in accessible format; make websites accessible for all persons with disabilities; make consultations and campaigns accessible to persons with disabilities; have PwD representations at Booth Level Agents (BLAs); and to sensitize the same about right to equal participation of Persons with Disabilities in the electoral process.
The SCPD also reminded that there needs to be consolidation of database of voters with disabilities according to Polling Station to facilitate planning of services to be offered, training and sensitisation of polling personnel, transportation facilities, and availability of required volunteers.
There is also need for database of voters with disabilities, complete with the nature of disability, assistance required and service offering at the poll/facilitation centre should be made ready before the start of the electoral process. Such lists should be made available to the Presiding Officers, Sector Magistrates, DPO's/CSO's, Facilitation Centres. Care is to be taken that the information should not be made public.
The CEO Nagaland was also informed that training and sensitisation of election officials and staff should be conducted so that they understand and are empathetic to the needs of voters with disabilities. The training should be factored into regular training to the staff as also for the registration and facilitation of the PwDs.
The SCPD further reminded the CEO on the provisions that are required for physical access and facilities at polling stations. (See Table)
The SCPD also said that alternative voting methods like advance voting or early voting, voting from home, postal vote, or mobile polling station concept should be considered without compromising on the essential requirements of sanctity and secrecy of vote.
Meanwhile, it was stated that poll volunteers from among future voters can be organised from educational institutions, NCC/NSS and other non-partisan voluntary groups and trained to assist voters with disabilities on polling day.
The State Commissioner further requested that a meeting of the State Steering Committee on Accessible Elections along with other stakeholders is called at the earliest to deliberate on an Action Plan to ensure Accessible Elections for voters with disabilities.
Facilities required at polling stations for PwDs
• Exclusive polling booths, as far as practicable, should be set up for PwDs in places where they reside in large numbers.
• Ensure that polling stations are situated on the ground floor. If not, lift facility/extension of ramp to each floor should be provided.
• Standardised and uniform design of ramps shall be implemented.
• Temporary/Mobile ramps shall be made available wherever permanent facility cannot be provided.
• Other facilities according to the needs of persons with disabilities like accessible toilets, tactile signage outside the polling stations and Voters’ guide in braille for the visually impaired voters should be made available
• Access to ramps shall be made smooth in places of sandy and slushy pathways.
• Ramps shall be provided in such a manner that it directly leads to the door of polling stations to avoid navigating through corridors.
• Proper approach roads to Polling Stations shall be ensured by local authorities/respective departments.
• Mobile barricades should be erected in front of doors of each Polling Station.
• Entrance door of polling station shall be kept wide open and adequate space around the voting compartment should be ensured for wheel chair movement.
• Tables on which voting machines are placed should be of accessible height for wheelchair users and people of short stature.
• Facility for separate entry should be made available for PwDs wherever necessary
• Pathway to polling rooms shall have indicators with standard signage.
• Depending on the number of PwDs among electors in a polling station, facilities like ramp, tricycles, basic information through audio- video, should be made available. These facilities should be physically verified and certified by the Commission.
• Wheelchairs shall be provided at identified polling stations.
• Transport assistance should be made available to voters with disabilities who need it.
• Priority entry passes shall be issued to persons with disabilities. All possible steps should be taken to ensure that PwDs are not required to wait in queue.
