A legal notice has been served on the government seeking immediate measures to ensure the voting rights of people with special needs — including visually impaired and physically disabled voters — in the upcoming national elections.
The notice was issued on Tuesday to the chief election commissioner, the Election Commission secretary, and the secretaries of the Local Government Division, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the Ministry of Social Welfare.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab sent the notice via email on behalf of human rights organisation Law & Life Foundation Trust and Supreme Court lawyers Naeem Sardar and Shah Sarwar Salf Shaon.
The notice states that, under existing laws, it is the constitutional responsibility of the state to ensure the participation of people with disabilities in elections. However, due to the authorities’ inaction, an estimated three million voters with disabilities are being deprived of meaningful participation, it said.
Citing media reports, the notice mentioned that only 10% of disabled voters cast ballots in the 2018 national polls, leaving 90% unable to participate. This lack of inclusion, it argued, undermines democratic practice and prevents the voices of millions of citizens from being reflected in governance.
The legal notice called for immediate steps to ensure the voting rights of voters with special needs, including: measures to exempt disabled candidates from the requirement of submitting a security deposit with nomination papers in national and local government elections; introducing a system of reserved seats for people with disabilities at both national and local levels; and implementing Braille voting facilities for visually impaired voters.
It stated that despite constitutional guarantees under Article 118 and provisions in the Representation of the People Order 1973, the participation of disabled voters has become uncertain due to administrative failure.
As the authorities have not taken adequate steps despite reports in national dailies, the notice said the matter requires urgent intervention.
The notice warned that if the recipients fail to act within five days, the Law & Life Foundation Trust will file a writ petition with the High Court in the public interest.
