Political Participation: Making
Elections Accessible in India
Javed Abidi
Chairperson, Disabled People’s International
Email: chairperson.dpi@gmail.com
Beginning
 India is the world’s largest democracy and home to an
estimated 70-100 million people with disabilities or at
least 7% of the country’s population.
 Yet, in a country whose political system is largely swayed
by vote banks, disability was and continues to be a low
priority for politicians and political parties.
 Prior to 2004, the election process itself was
inaccessible: the polling booths were at inaccessible
venues, the ballot papers were not in Braille and the
electronic voting machines (EVMs) did not have a Braille
strip.
General Election 2004
 4th General Election since the passage of the
Disability Act of 1995.
 Disabled Rights Group (DRG), a cross-disability
alliance of disabled people’s organisations,
NGOs and activists working in the area of
disability, wrote to the Election Commission
urging them to make the polling booths
accessible and removing impediments that
people with disabilities face while exercising
their right to vote.
National Convention on the Political
Rights of Disabled People
National Convention on the Political
Rights of Disabled People
National Convention on the Political
Rights of Disabled People
Protests outside Election Commission
Protests outside Election Commission
Protests outside Election Commission
Protests outside Election Commission
Protests outside Election Commission
Building ramps outside the Election
Commission
Building ramps outside the Election
Commission
Building ramps outside the Election
Commission
Building ramps outside the Election
Commission
Appeal to the President
 DRG also appealed to the then President, Dr. A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam to facilitate smooth voting for the millions
of disabled Indian voters.
 In a representation to the President, Javed Abidi,
Convenor, DRG, said, "Time is running out. With every
passing day, it will become that much more difficult for
the nation to ensure that disabled people were not
discriminated against in this election also.”
 A document was presented to the Election
Commission outlining the problems faced by disabled
voters, and the solutions to them.
 Problem 1: Lack of transport facility disenfranchises
millions of disabled voters
Solution: Government to issue directive to public transport
such as buses to pay special attention to disabled voters,
giving them enough time to board the buses and
disembarking as close to the polling booths as possible.
 Problem 2: Barriers and barricades put up at the polling
booths by security agencies
Solution: Election Commission to issue directive to allow
vehicles carrying disabled persons to go up to the polling
booths. Special stickers can be issued to such vehicles.
 Problem 3: Polling booths themselves have steps that are
difficult to negotiate
Solution: Provide temporary wooden ramps at polling
stations.
 Problem 4: Visually impaired voters cannot cast their
vote in secrecy and have to take the help of someone
Solution: Print numbers in Braille and stick them on the
EVMs.
 Problem 5: Hearing impaired voters are harassed
because of their invisible disability
Solution: Election Commission to send a firm circular
sensitizing their staff about such voters.
Meeting with Election Commission
Meeting with Election Commission
Too little too late: Election Commission
Circular
Fast unto Death in protest
Fast unto death
Chief Justice of India takes up the issue of accessible
elections
Chief Justice of India takes up the issue of accessible
elections
Supreme Court passes interim order for accessible elections, a first
in India’s history!
Supreme Court passes interim order for accessible elections, a first
in India’s history!
Supreme Court passes interim order for accessible elections, a first
in India’s history!