NO VOTER TO BE LEFT BEHIND: CEO Nagaland takes steps for accessible elections

Kohima, February 17 (MTNews): To fulfil the commitment of ‘No Voter to be left behind’ and ensuring ‘accessible elections’ in this General Election, the Chief Election Officer (CEO) Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar IAS stated on Friday that amenities are being provided in the polling stations so that the rigours of polling processes get reduced and making it a pleasant experience on the day of poll for all categories of voters.

The CEO said that efforts are being made to provide minimum facilities for the voters in the polling stations like drinking water, electricity, ramp for PwD voters, toilet and waiting shed.

He also said that giving special entry passes into the polling station will be given to certain categories of voters to cast votes without waiting in queue, like identified PwD voters and even those unidentified PwD Voters, if they produce Disability ID Cards to the presiding officer, octogenarian and older voters, pregnant women voters, and women voters with babies in arms.

The CEO also said that under Rule 49N of the Conduct of Elections Rules 1960, the visually impaired can have one companion to the polling booth to record vote in the machine as per choice.

Further, the CEO said that the balloting unit of EVM, on the right side of the press button, contains Braille numerals (serial numbers) for visually impaired voters to select their choice of candidate or NOTA to cast vote.

He also stated that the electoral law not only guarantee equality of PwDs but also mandates the election machineries to facilitate their access and participation in the electoral processes within the polling station, among others, like provision of ramps for wheelchair-user voters and parking facilities for the vehicles of the PwD voters at the premises.

Further, the Election Department has also asked political parties to include in their political campaign manifesto and plan for protection and safeguarding the rights of PwDs and senior citizens and providing ample opportunity for participating.

The District Election Officers have been instructed to facilitate the special needs of the PwDs and senior citizen voters.

“This is issued for all stakeholders to comply and the PwDs and senior citizen voters to come out and participate in this election and make our democracy wholesome and reflective of people’s choices and aspirations,” the CEO stated.