Maharashtra poll booths to be disabled, pregnant-friendly

Don’t fret over how your physically-challenged or pregnant relative will be able to cast his/her ballot in the upcoming civic polls. The state election commission has issued a set of facilities to be made available at polling booths to ensure that the pregnant, the physically-challenged and senior citizens will not have to queue up for long.

Women with a child, besides those pregnant, will be given preference over others at the booth.

“There have been instances when the pregnant, the physically-challenged and senior citizens were put off by the idea of incessantly waiting in line. This time, we are paying attention to every minute detail,” said Chand Goyal, additional chief secretary of the election commission.

No polling booth will be allowed to be set up above the ground floor in a building with no lift. An elevated ramp for the physically-challenged is also mandatory.

“Also, for the first time, we have electronic voting machines with Braille script on the ballot unit with which the visually-challenged can decipher the candidates’ name,” added Goyal. Every polling booth will also sport a shed, facilities for drinking water and a washroom.