Page 229 - Leap of Faith inside pages with cover (1)

Milestones - A Constant Endeavour Chapter 8

Assured Minimum Facili es at Polling Sta ons (2019): b) Persons with Disabili es (PwD) and
Ahead of the Seventeenth General Elec ons, 2019 the c) Those engaged in maintenance of essen al services as
Elec on Commission (vide its le er dated March 16, no fied by the Elec on Commission from me to me
2019) issued an instruc on to Chief Electoral Officers in all have now been accorded the status of “Absentee Voters”.
states/UTs to ensure “Assured Minimum Facili es” at all They have the op on to vote through postal ballot by filling
polling sta ons. The 15 items on the list included facili es up Form 12-D. A nodal officer shall verify their claim of
such as ramp with 1:10 (or less) gradient, drinking water,
belonging to the said category. Extension of this new facility
adequate furniture, medical kit, help desk, toilet, shade, is a result of Elec on Commission's recommenda ons
proper signage, volunteers below the age of 18 years, which resulted in the no fica on by Legisla ve
provision for crèche for children, provision for Department, Ministry of Law and Jus ce on October 22,
transporta on facility for persons with visual and
2019 by amending the Conduct of Elec on Rules, 1961.
locomo ve difficul es etc. In various states across India,
Soon a erwards, the facility was implemented in seven
there have been widespread efforts made to shi polling
sta ons to the ground floor to make them more Assembly Cons tuencies during the Legisla ve Assembly
accessible to PwDs. Elec ons in Jharkhand (2019). During the Legisla ve
Assembly Elec ons in Bihar (2020) it was extended to all
Postal Ballot Facility (2019): 243 cons tuencies. It has now become a permanent
Enrolled voters in the categories of – feature available on demand to electors recognised in
a) Above 80 years of age those specified categories.
EMPOWERED

POSTAL
BALLOT

Ensuring Accessible
Elections

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