ECM Reveals 60 Voters Added to ECM’s Visually Impaired Registry

The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced the registration of 60 individuals in the visually impaired registry, paving the way for their participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Deputy Chairman of ECM, Ismail Habeeb, emphasised the importance of ensuring voting accessibility for visually impaired citizens during a programme aired on PSM News. Citing data from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) and other administrative bodies, Habeeb highlighted the sizable number of visually impaired individuals eligible to vote. He noted the distribution of specially designed voting templates across the Maldives during the 2023 presidential elections to cater to those with visual impairments.

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Despite the significant expenses incurred, Habeeb noted a low turnout of visually impaired voters in previous elections. He stated that the establishment of the registry followed consultations with relevant authorities, aiming to enhance voting accessibility for this demographic.

Visually impaired individuals have historically faced challenges in exercising their voting rights independently. However, following amendments to the Election General Act, they were able to vote independently in the previous year’s presidential elections.

Habeeb further disclosed that voting templates for the visually impaired had been dispatched to all polling stations, featuring raised edges on the paper to aid in identifying candidates’ names and numbers. It was reported that 45 visually impaired individuals utilized these templates to cast their votes during the 2023 presidential election.