Braille-enabled signboards to be used during Maheshtala bypoll

Braille-enabled signboards to be used during Maheshtala bypoll

News:

1. Election Commission of India  for the first time will start the use of Braille-enabled signboardsfor visually challenged voters in the upcoming Maheshtala Assembly by-election in West Bengal.

Important Facts:

2. The initiative of Braille-enabled signboards was part of the drive to make elections more accessible to persons with disabilities (PWD).
3. The decision to use Braille-enabled signboards is a State-specific measure to ensure hassle-free polling experience for visually impaired voters.
4. The Braille-enabled signboards will be available for all the 283 polling stations in the Maheshtala Assembly constituency in South 24 Paraganas district.
5. The Braille-enabled signboards includes conventionally displayed instructions for voters on how to use electronic voting machine and voter verifiable Paper Audit Trail.
6. EC held consultations with officials of the State government departments such as Women, Child and Social Welfare, Youth Services and Sports to frame strategies to increase involvement of  physically challenged voters in the polling process.