Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Braille-friendly EVMs in two constituencies in the district

Staff Reporter

The visually challenged can exercise their franchise without the help of others

GEARING UP FOR ELECTIONS: District Collector N. Ayyappan inspecting the electronic voting machines that arrived at the office of the Controller of Stationery in the city on Saturday. - Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: Braille-friendly Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be introduced in Thiruvananthapuram East and Aryanad Assembly constituencies of the capital district, for the first time in the State, in the forthcoming elections to enable the visually disabled to exercise their franchise without the help of others.

The decision to introduce Braille-friendly EVMs was taken following the directive of the Election Commission to introduce them in one district of States where elections are being held. Thiruvananthapuram district has been selected in Kerala and the two constituencies were selected on the basis of one each from city and rural limits, the District Election Officer and District Collector, N. Ayyappan, told a press conference here on Sunday.

Although the district administration does not have any break-up of the visually disabled voters in Thiruvananthapuram East and Aryanad constituencies, Mr. Ayyappan said the two were selected as the number of polling booths in the two constituencies was less compared to the other 12 constituencies in the district. Those who come along with the visually disabled would be allowed to accompany them to the polling booth.

According to Mr. Ayyappan, stickers in Braille would be pasted in the EVMs to be installed in polling booths in the two constituencies. Candidates contesting the elections would be given numbers. The visually disabled can exercise their franchise by choosing the numbers, which will be in Braille, and pressing the corresponding button of the EVM.

Warning to candidates

The District Collector said it had come to the notice of the election officials that multi-coloured posters of candidates had appeared in several parts of the district before political parties announced their candidature. Reminding the parties that Rs.10 lakhs was the maximum expenditure a candidate can spend for election in an Assembly constituency, Mr. Ayyappan said all expenses would go to the candidate's account.

Mr. Ayyappan said the printers of printing press in the district should give to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) the number of posters being printed for each candidate within a scheduled timeframe.

Action would also be initiated under the Representation of People's Act against the printers who fail to provide the details to the CEO.

The election agents should ensure that the "close" button of the EVMs is closed after the polling is over at 5 p.m. Although it is the job of the presiding officer of each booth, the election agents should ensure that they are closed to avoid unnecessary allegations. By keeping "open" the close button, the District Collector said a person having the EVM and the control unit could indulge in manipulation by adding or reducing the votes.

The Election Commission has asked the election officials to keep a close watch on the election expense of the candidates. The Commission has posted 11 observers for 14 constituencies in the district. Of the 11, seven are general observers and the remaining are expenditure observers. General observer S. K. Sawant for Neyattinkara and Parasala Assembly constituencies has already, arrived in the capital.

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