25 youngsters take part in mock poll

Chennai: When Nagamanjari C and her friends at Vidya Sagar school were explained how to use EVMs, and the importance of ethical voting. they were excited to cast their votes albeit in mock poll. These differently-abled students took a pledge to vote, and were explained the voting process by revenue officials on Tuesday.

“Using the mock EVMs, I voted thrice today. Officials explained the process of casting one’s vote,” Nagamanjari said. A student was so disappointed upon finding the symbol of his favorite party missing from the mock EVMs that he flatly refused to vote. “About 25 students took part in the mock polling. Some could participate effortlessly while a few others faced issues as they were not able to reach EVMs,” Smitha Sadasivan of Disability Rights Alliance.

Last month, the organisation submitted a documented record of issues and demands to Election Commissioner (EC) in the interest of the differently-abled.  

“The EC had said he will ensure an alternate method of voting like postal or online voting. But, now we have been informed that in this elections it can’t be implemented,” said Smitha.

Many residents at the Mogappair centre of Banyan, an NGO,  have not received their booth slips yet even after registering online, and the Tahsildar and revenue officials have asked them to wait till May 14, according to Punitha Suresh, advocacy coordinator.