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