The Election Commission (EC) on Monday asked the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer to put in place a variety of measures to ensure that differently-abled voters do not face problems while exercising their franchise in the Assembly polls on February 7. In a letter to Delhi CEO Chandra Bhushan, the EC said the personnel at the polling station must ensure that differently-abled electors are given priority for entering polling stations, without having to wait in the queue.
“Full facility should be provided for such electors to take their wheelchairs inside the polling stations. In the polling stations where permanent ramps have not been provided, temporary ramps should be provided for the purpose,” it said. The EC said the polling personnel should be specifically briefed about the provisions of Rule 49N of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which provides for permitting a companion to accompany a blind/infirm elector to assist him to cast the vote, if he so wishes. It said polling personnel should be sensitised to be courteous to the differently-abled.
“Electors with speech and hearing impairment should also be given special care as is done in the case of other differently-abled,” the poll watchdog said. The EC has issued similar guidelines in the past too.