New voting system for the visually impaired; Pilot project on Election Day

by Zulfick Farzan 03-08-2020 | 7:03 PM

Colombo (News 1st); The National Elections Commission today introduced a new system for the visually impaired to exercise their franchise at the August 05th Parliamentary Election.

The new system will be tested at Wednesday's Poll as a Pilot Project centering on the Nuwara Eliya district.

In most countries across the world, the latest technology is used for the benefit of those with difficulties including the visually impaired, however, in Sri Lanka, the situation is such a visually impaired voter always needs a person to accompany them to vote at the ballot box.

The new system is introduced as a result of multiple requests made by the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped from the National Elections Commission.

What's even more interesting is the fact, the secrecy of the vote is secured in this new system and a trial run took place at the Nuwara District Secretariat on Sunday (02).