Braille EVM : Voting for Braille

The 15th Lok Sabha elections is witnessing predictable political action,

courtesy the usual tussle between the ruling coalitionthe UPA (led by Congress)

and the NDA (led by BJP); followed by the the fallout between the various

coalition partners of both the alliances (read Lalu and Paswan taking a

different route in Bihar and Biju Patnaik leaving BJP out in the cold in Orissa).

But this time the elections for the worlds largest democracy is also making

news for another reasonthe general elections are the first disabled-friendly

elections, thanks to the introduction of Braille Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Following a Supreme Court order in October 2004, the Election Commission had

promised easy access to booths, and Braille stickers on electronic voting

machines (EVMs) to enable the disabled to cast their votes with ease. Rajesh

Malhotra, director (Media & Communications) Election Commission of India &

Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports adds, We started using Braille EVMs way back

in 2004 in the Andhra Pradesh by-elections. Even in the last Assembly elections,

we used Braille EVMs in about six states in which elections were held.

Before the introduction of Braille EVMs, as per the law, the sight-disabled

voters could take one helper inside the polling booth in order to cast their

vote. However this meant that these voters had to disclose their voting

preferences to the helpers, resulting in breach of the no-secrecy issue vital in

casting the vote. Therefore in 2004, the Election Commission discussed this

issue with the two EVM manufacturers-Bangalore-based Bharat Electronics and

Hyderabad-based Electronic Corporation of India and came up with this solution,

adds Malhotra.

In the current general elections, a total of 1.05 mn EVMs are being used out

of which 4,50,000 are Braille-enabled. India is estimated to be home to at least

15 mn blind people.

Braille EVMs



Earlier, the sight-disabled voters would be accompanied by a helper in

casting their votes, from this election onwards, these voters can cast their

votes independently, courtesy Braille EVMs. While the machine would essentially

remain the same, a strip in Braille would be pasted on the button side of the

machine. Before casting the vote, the voters will also be given a ballot paper

in Braille which will include the candidates numbers. This means that every

candidate from that constituency would be assigned a unique number. This number

would also be featured in the Braille sticker strip which would be pasted on the

EVM alongside the blue button (voting button) at every polling station, informs

Malhotra. The voters can read and memorize the candidate number from the braille

ballot paper and then cast their vote.

However, considering that a majority of the sight-disabled voters are unable

to read Braille, they will be allowed to be accompanied by a helper in casting

their vote.

Before their large-scale deployment in the general elections this year, the

Braille EVMs were also used in the last Assembly elections including in New

Delhi. The Braille EVMs are being used all across India in these elections

including in Jammu & Kashmir.

While the introduction of sight-disabled EVMs have come as a pleasant change;

considering that a majority of Indian blind voters are unable to read Braille,

perhaps the Election Commission can also think of introducing voice-prompts in

the EVMs like in the United States. Perhaps the next general elections will see

the introduction of voice-prompts in Braille EVMs.

Stuti Das



stutid@cybermedia.co.in