Voters with disability must be accompanied

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya outlined the provisions made in Section 54(2) of the principal Act by Elections (Special Provisions) Act for a person who is totally or partially visually handicapped or physically disabled to be accompanied by another person to assist in marking of the ballot paper.

He stressed that no disabled voter can enter the polling station without an accompanying person.

The statement:

"Provisions has been made in Section 54(2) of the principal Act by Elections (Special Provisions) Act No 28 of 2011 or a person who is totally or partially visually handicapped or physically disabled to be accompanied by another person to assist in marking of the ballot paper.

"The person who accompanies the disabled person should be more than 18 years and not a contesting candidate at the election. Similarly, he should not be an authorized agent of a political party or a polling agent at the election. In addition he should not be a person subject any disability".

"The disabled person should hand over to the officers at the polling station a Certificate of Eligibility prescribed in the Tenth Schedule to the Act.

"The form to be used to obtain the Certificate of Eligibility can be obtained from the Grama Niladhari of the area of authority of the Local Authority. A specimen of the Certificate of Disability can be obtained by visiting the website (www.slelections.gov.lk) of the Department of Elections.

The visually or physically disabled person may obtain an application form from the Grama Niladhari, complete it, obtain the Grama Niladharies endorsement on it and then submit it to the Government Medical officer who will examine the applicant and certify that the applicant is entitled or not to be treated as a disabled person.

"The disabled person should proceed to the polling station with his National Identity Card or any other approved identity card acceptable at the polling station and the Certificate of Disability certified by the Government Medical Officer and accompanied by the person who is named to assist the veter to mark his ballot paper.

The staff at the polling station will after ascertaining the identity of the voter, go through the normal procedure and issue a ballot paper to voter. The voter will be directed to the Senior Presiding Officer along with the accompanying person. It is also essential that the person accompanying the disabled voter should also bring his own National Identity Card or Identity document which is acceptable at the polling station.

"The Senior Presiding Officer will take over the voter's Certificate of Disability and obtain a written statement from the accompanying person. Subsequently, the voter, the accompanying person and a member of the staff of the polling station will proceed to the voting cubicle.

There in the presence of the Senior Presiding Officer and the member of staff the ballot paper will be marked."

No disabled voter can go to the polling station without an accompanying person.

The Certificate of disability will be retained with the Senior Presiding Officer.