EC Trains Persons with Disability on Voting Processes and Tactile Jackets in Central Tongu.

Central Tongu: The Electoral Commission (EC) has taken a significant step towards ensuring inclusive and accessible voting processes for Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region. The EC organized a training session for PWDs, focusing on electoral processes and the use of tactile jackets to facilitate independent voting. The training aimed to empower the PWDs to participate fully in the upcoming December 7 elections.According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Comfort Amoah, District Director of the Electoral Commission, emphasized the importance of independent voting rights for PWDs. She noted that, in the past, PWDs had been assisted by relatives or friends, who sometimes influenced their voting decisions. To address this issue, the EC has trained ballot issuers to assist PWDs during the voting process.Madam Amoah encouraged PWDs to also seek assistance from Presiding Officers whenever needed. The training also covered essential voting guidelines, such as not voting f or more than one person on the same ballot paper, not writing on the ballot paper with ink, and not bringing unauthorized materials to the polling station.Madam Amoah reminded PWDs that they were exempted from queuing on election day, per the Constitutional Instrument 91 and 127 that prioritized their needs along with those of pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the aged. The EC Director reassured PWDs that 'your names are in the voter register, and you would not be denied the right to vote even if you have misplaced their voter ID cards, you all can still vote by providing your correct names as stated on your voter ID cards.'A student with visual impairment, Ms Sitsofe Amekor, praised the EC for the training, saying it would enable her to vote independently using the tactile jacket. She also pledged to promote peaceful elections among the PWDs in the district.