The Election Commission's initiative to introduce the 'Vote From Home' scheme, specifically targeting citizens aged 85 and above and those with more than 40 per cent disabilities, has elicited a diverse array of opinions and experiences among eligible voters. Take the case of Preeti Monga, a 60-year-old totally visually impaired person and the CEO of Silver Linings—an organization dedicated to advocating for inclusive education. She acknowledges the intrinsic value of physically visiting the polling booth as an act of inclusion within mainstream society.
“As far as I am concerned, I would prefer to visit the booth and vote. Because, that is what is called inclusion. I want to be a part of mainstream society as much as possible. However, persons with disabilities (PwDs) who have difficulty in reaching the polling booth which can be because of any reason, I think postal ballots are wonderful. It shows that they are not excluded from very important activities. That is called empowerment.”
For Monga, the opportunity to exercise one's voting rights with complete dignity, regardless of physical limitations, is paramount. Also, searing heat as predicted by the IMD may restrict many PwDs and old people to visit the polling booths, she said. She appreciated the EC for widespread promotion of the scheme among those for whom it is meant.
Samuel Mani, a 47-year-old with Cerebral Palsy too shared his enthusiasm for the 'Vote From Home' option. However, he said he was not aware of the launch of the scheme and that he came to know about it only through this correspondent. “This means my old mother, a bed-ridden can also participate in the world’s largest democratic exercise. By bringing the voting process directly to their doorstep, the scheme ensures that even those confined to their homes due to disabilities can contribute to shaping the nation's future,” he said in broken words.
However, as far as he is concerned, he would prefer to be at the ‘happening venue” on the D-Day along with his old father (83) and his wife Meenu Mani. The founders of an NGO ‘Yes, We Can’, the couple have similar neurological conditions and rely on wheelchairs for mobility.
Rajesh Singh, an 87-year-old retired teacher residing in Mumbai too was equally enthusiastic at the 'Vote From Home' scheme. He cited age-related health challenges that render visiting polling booths as a daunting task. For individuals like Singh, the convenience and accessibility afforded by the option to cast their vote from the comfort of their homes represent a significant relief, eliminating the need to rely on external assistance for voting, he said, echoing many from the sector.
In contrast, Neha Patel, a 45-year-old individual with physical disabilities from New Delhi, harbored reservations about the concept. While recognizing its potential for convenience, Patel voices concerns regarding privacy breaches and potential coercion within the confines of the home environment. The sanctity of the voting process, she contends, could be compromised in settings where external influences hold sway.
Sanjay Sharma, a person with a 40 per cent disability, called upon the EC to address logistical challenges and provide adequate support to facilitate seamless voting procedures for elderly and disabled citizens, thereby ensuring their full participation in the electoral process.
Having encountered difficulties accessing polling booths in previous elections due to mobility issues, Anita Singh (70) welcomed the initiative as a positive stride towards promoting greater engagement among marginalized communities.
The scheme would allow more than 85 lakh senior citizens and 88.4 lakh persons with disabilities to cast their votes as per their comfort.
Dr. Satendra Singh, a well-known disability rights activist, shared about the process of the scheme. Talking to a news agency he said that booth-level officers will reach out to eligible voters within a specified timeframe, accompanied by a team comprising poll officials, a videographer, and security personnel. Ensuring timely response to these visits is paramount, as failure to do so could result in the loss of the opportunity to cast one's vote, whether through postal-ballot or Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), he echoed views of many enthusiastic voters from the sector.