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The Constitution of India gives the right to vote to all citizens of the country. Among these rights, special provisions have been made for the disabled to cast their votes.
According to the 2011 census, there are approximately 2.68 crore people with disabilities in India. About 5 million of them are visually impaired. However, their votes are just as important as anyone else's.
Article 15 of our Constitution prohibits discrimination against any citizen by the state. Yet persons with disabilities have long been fighting for their right to vote on an equal footing with other citizens.
Section 11 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 states that the Election Commission of India and State Election Commissions shall ensure that all polling stations are accessible to persons with disabilities and that all materials related to the election process are easily understandable.
This Act was enacted to give effect to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an international human rights treaty that aims to ensure the full and effective participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in society.
In line with the strategic framework adopted in the National Consultation on Accessible Elections on 4 July 2018, the Election Commission said it is committed to creating an equal-access framework for persons with disabilities based on the core principles of accountability, respect and empowerment.
Visually impaired voters usually cast their vote in elections with the help of a companion. Assisted voting allows such voters to participate in the electoral process despite not having a secret and free vote.
However, in the present system of voting through EVMs there is no way of knowing whether the person assisting the candidate chosen by the visually impaired voter has actually cast his vote or not.
Dummy ballot papers in Braille script are given to visually impaired voters at polling stations. Visually impaired people are allowed to enter the polling booth to cast their vote after studying the dummy ballot paper.
After reading the dummy ballot sheet, such voters can cast their vote by reading the details recorded in Braille script on the EVM and the serial number of the candidate of their choice.
As per Rule 49 (N) of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, the facility of companionship is also provided to visually impaired persons at the polling station. Apart from this, if the visually impaired voters wish, they can also take the help of booth volunteer or presiding officer.