TN still has a ways to go before making elections accessible

Voters with disabilities had challenges on Friday in reaching voting places around the city, demonstrating how elusive the concept of an inclusive and accessible election still remained. Among the major problems that voters with disabilities encountered were steep stairs, wheelchairs of low quality, and the absence of automobiles.

Nonetheless, a few voting places stood out for their accessibility. There was an accessible wheelchair and a dedicated ramp at the Corporation High School located on Cooks Road in Perambur. On Friday, Victor (60), a Perambur resident who has consistently cast ballots for over 35 years, used a wheelchair to go to the polling place. “I have to carry out my democratic obligation. With a wheelchair and better transportation this time, voting was simpler,” he said.

This isn’t always the case, however. Accessibility problems prevented a 70-year-old wheelchair user from comfortably reaching a booth in Sholinganallur. She was assisted in entering the room by her son and daughter-in-law. “I did not begin voting until I was in my 60s. These days, I make sure to do it in every election. In a wheelchair, it is not feasible to cross a sand-filled area to go to the voting place,” the elderly lady said.

In Vyasarpadi, a government high school’s voting place lacked guaranteed amenities. Voters had to be hoisted and supported by the on-duty authorities as the makeshift ramp in front of the booth withered away.

In the meanwhile, there is a permanent ramp with a suitable grade and railings at the corporate primary school in Thalankuppam, making the voting place there more accessible. The Disability Rights Alliance’s Vaishnavi Jayakumar said, “The election commission should ensure permanent facilities at booths instead of going for temporary solutions.”