The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has stated that it will evaluate whether the polling stations during the presidential election are accessible to people with disabilities.
Speaking to PSM News, President of HRCM Mariyam Muna said a pre-election monitoring evaluation has been conducted which consisted of teams traveling to the atolls and reviewing the level of preparation and evaluating the level of public awareness regarding the electoral process. She also said that the commission has discussed the challenges faced by people with disabilities and proposed solutions to the National Advisory Committee on Elections, which have been implemented.
Additionally, Muna said that HRCM is continuing to monitor the electoral process, including whether the polling stations are accessible to people with disabilities. She also reminded candidates and political parties to stop campaign activities after the deadline.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the third amendment bill to the Elections General Act earlier this year, which proposed 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 stated that 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.