EC helps the disabled, centenarians to vote

Among its new initiatives, the Election Commission (EC) made special arrangements for differently abled people as well as centenarian voters across Delhi during the elections. The EC also deployed Accessibility Observers to ensure maximum participation by such people.

By appointing civil defence personnel, the EC ensured that physcially challenged persons, including the blind, and voters who were above 90 years old could use official vehicles to help them visit their nearby polling stations to exercise their

franchise. At least three to five civil defence personnel were deployed in each of the 13,816 polling stations established at 2,700 locations in all the seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi.

Disabled people and centenarians were even telephoned a day before polling to inform them about the vehicle arrangements. Food was also arranged for them in some polling booths.

Of the 14.3 million voters in Delhi, there were around 2,000 diffeently abled voters and 90 voters above the age of 100 years.

“The move is aimed at encouraging the handicapped and centenarian voters to exercise their democratic right. The EC’s aim is to give such voters special attention so that they could feel how important they are for democracy,” said an official.