The Parliament of the Maldives has passed a bill to allow visually impaired persons to cast ballots themselves without assistance. The bill was passed with 51 votes in favour.
The amendment bill to the Elections General Act was proposed by Parliamentarian Jeehan Mahmood. The bill was proposed after the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Gender held a meeting with the Blind and Visually Impaired Society of the Maldives to discuss protecting ballots cast by persons with visual impairments.
The bill proposes solutions to allow visually impaired persons to cast their votes by themselves to maintain secrecy. The bill allows for the use of a plastic template sheet over the ballot paper with boxes cut out to make it easier for visually impaired persons to cast their vote. It also allows them to use a transparent plastic device that can be inserted into the ballot paper or temporarily attached to the top of the ballot paper.
The bill further states that the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) will be responsible for formulating policies and making the necessary arrangements to enable visually impaired persons to use plastic templates. Visually impaired persons are also required to place their ballot paper in the ballot box with the paper folded so as not to compromise the secrecy of the vote.