Nagaland SCPD calls for urgent action to make ULB elections accessible for all

DIMAPUR — The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) in Nagaland has urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to take immediate action to ensure that polling stations are accessible to voters with disabilities in the upcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) elections.

In a letter to the SEC on Friday, the SCPD expressed concern over no mention being made about facilities for voters with disabilities, in the information received regarding preparations for the ULB elections.

Highlighting provisions in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Nagaland Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2019, the SCPD called on the election commissioner to make reasonable accommodations to ensure that persons with disabilities are not excluded from exercising their franchise.

These accommodations include identifying voters with disabilities at each polling station, ensuring physical accessibility at polling stations through ramps, accessible voting tables, clear signage, wide doorways, and adequate space.

It also called for provision of wheelchairs at identified polling stations, training and sensitising polling officials to the needs of voters with disabilities, and offering alternative voting methods such as advance or early voting, and voting from home for individuals with high support needs.

Among others, the SCPD also sought the provision of volunteers to assist persons with disabilities at polling stations and ‘priority entry passes’ for persons with disabilities to ensure that they are not required to wait in queue.

The SEC has been instructed to submit an action taken report to the SCPD by June 24, two days before the polling on June 26.