‘Disabled voters will get facilities at booths’

As many as 10,300 PWD (persons with disabilities) voters have been identified in Dakshina Kannada district. All efforts are being made to ensure that PWD voters get to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls despite their handicaps, Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S said.

The district administration would ensure that PWD voters cast their votes and make the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) slogan-- “No voter gets left behind” -- a reality.

He spoke at the National Voters’ Day organised by the district administration and district SVEEP committee at Town Hall.

Senthil said that in this election, visually challenged voters would be provided Braille enabled voter slips. “Other necessities required for PWD voters will be provided at polling booths. Staff on election duty can vote via postal ballot he added.

Senthil called upon first-time voters to act as election ambassadors by spreading awareness. “Voting is not a boring process anymore,” the DC said adding that elections should be celebrated like a religious festival.

“The election process in India is among the best models in the world. It is followed in many countries,” he added.

Senthil said that voters could enrol their names during the seven days after the announcement of election dates. “The voter’s list is published on the ECI website. For queries, voters may call the helpline number 1950,” he informed.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Kadluru Satyanarayana Acharya advised voters to exercise their franchise. “Nobody should be deprived the right to vote. People can guarantee themselves a secure future by electing the right candidates,” he said.

“It is sad that many educated people don’t vote. ECI has now provided a NOTA option by which the voter gets the right to invalidate his vote and ensure that it is not misused by others,” the judge added.

Some first-time voters were symbolically given EPIC cards. Visually challenged voters were given voter slips in Braille.

Election staff Ashwin Kumar Rai (software department of NIC) and booth level officers Gunasheela, Vedavathi and Thippeshappa were awarded on the occasion for extraordinary service. Prizes were distributed to students who won the essay writing and quiz contests head on the occasion.