When voters next go to the polls, the visually-impaired among them will find special aids to help them mark their ballots, according to the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom).
Following a meeting with a delegation from the National Commission on Disability (NCD) on Wednesday that explored ways of effectively facilitating persons living with disabilities on Election Day, Gecom yesterday said it has given the undertaking to put into use a specially structured template to be placed over the ballot paper as an instrument which would assist visually-impaired electors in marking his/her ballot.
According to a Gecom statement, at the meeting both entities sought to identify and reduce barriers encountered when registering and voting at elections. It noted that the meeting was a follow up to a previous one held last year as the NCD continues to assess the current status of preparation by Gecom to accommodate the differently-abled during registration and on Election Day.
“Gecom recognizes that all registered electors have equal rights to vote regardless of whether or not they are disabled. Consequently, Gecom has promised the NCD that on Election Day persons with disabilities can expect to be treated respectfully and fairly, and will be given all the assistance they need from the polling day staff present at polling places on Election Day,” it said.
It noted that training exercises are ongoing with polling day staff and it is making serious efforts to have staff who are well-trained to take care of the needs of all voters, including the differently-abled.
Apart from its commitment to provide special aids for visually-impaired voters, Gecom said it hopes to implement audio visual electronic advertisements and notices which will include demonstrations by a sign language translator for the hearing impaired. A sign language translator will be made available by the NCD, it noted.
In addition, Gecom said all its new buildings are equipped with ramps for persons with physical disabilities, especially those who are wheelchair bound, in keeping with the Persons with Disabilities Act. Further, it is also exploring the possibility of having special arrangements in place at selected polling places for electors using wheelchairs. It added that all persons who are differently-abled will be given priority access at polling stations.
Representing the NCD at Wednesday’s meeting were its Chairman, Evelyn Hamilton, Vice-Chairman Vidushi Persaud, Commis-sioner Ganesh Singh, and Executive Secretary Beverly Pile. Gecom was represented by Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally, Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer Vishnu Persaud and the Legal Officer Juanita Barker.
