Parliament today approved changes proposed to the law to allow persons with vision impairment to vote without an assistant.
A bill proposed by Hinnavaru MP Jeehan Mahmood stating that persons with visual impairment could vote using a template on the ballot paper upon request was passed unanimously by 51 MPs.
The template, which is used in several other countries, has cut-outs to align with the boxes to be ticked on the ballot paper. The cut-outs will be designed to allow persons with vision impairment to identify ballot numbers by touch.
The amendment to the law specifies the circumstances and procedures for using the template.
The Blind Association lobbied for the right of persons with vision impairment to vote without assistance. In the past, they were only able to vote with an assistant.
A bill proposed by Kelaa MP Ibrahim Shareef to extend the application period for contesting in the presidential election was also passed. The bill was passed unanimously by 48 MPs who participated in the vote.
