The Delhi Election Commission has decided to make customised arrangements for people with special needs at polling booths across the city to encourage them to exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha elections.
Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev said the Commission was working on a unique software for voters with special needs through which they will be able to communicate to the EC their specific requirements on the polling day.
The software will be available on Delhi Election Commission's website within a week and differently abled voters will have to register their names, addresses and specific requirements.
"The aim of the initiative is to provide all required facilities to them for making their voting experience a pleasant one," said Dev.
"For example, if there is a requirement for a wheelchair for a particular voter or if the person needs an attendant, we can try to provide such facilities on polling day if we have information about it in advance," he added.
The Chief Electoral Officer said the software will not only help voters with disabilities but also enable the Commission to prepare a database of voters with special needs.
"No data is available on the number of disabled voters and hence it becomes difficult to arrange for special facilities for them," Dev told PTI.
However, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) figures put the number of differently abled people in the city at around 2.5 lakh.
Dev said there have been certain official instructions, including for the availability of ramps and Braille ballots at polling booths during earlier elections as well.
"But their needs have never been evaluated from their perspective hence either they refrain from voting or their experience is not a good one," he said.
